Despite having something of a cult following in the doom community, I personally have had a bit of an up and down relationship with this US doom band Pale Divine over the years. Something between their fine sounds but inconsistent songs rubbing the wrong way. This led to a bit off trepidation when this album, their fourth, arrived.
It got worse for a totally illogical reason: First track ‘Nocturne Dementia’ is an instrumental. Yep, a stupid reaction on my part, especially when it turns in a nice engaging riff. Suitably chastised, not to mention hopes raised we thump into the great second track ‘The Prophet’ which is heavy, catchy and has a rich, beautifully balanced vocal performance. This is cranked up even more on the epic ‘Angel Of Mercy’. This is heavy, epic and deeply melodic doom that draws on a deep emotional well and never lets go even on the extended guitar break. Seriously classy, adept and involving stuff which reminds me of a more doom based Svolk. It’s also noticeable that the stoner edge that the riffs previously had on Cemetery Earth and Thunder Perfect Mind are almost entirely absent.
Cracking start, this.
‘End Of Days’ has one of those wandering, downbeat Alice In Chains/Temple Of The Dog style riffs and it now occurs to me how much these vocals remind me of Layne Stayley. It’s weird that I’d never really considered the influence that grunge had on doom… Yes my mind wandered there for a minute despite the fine song. It does overstep the mark a bit, time wise but not disastrously so. ‘Black Coven’ is a miniscule six minute song, but whether its the clichéd lyrics or so-so sub Candlemass riff I don’t know but it seems longer until it is rescued by the great, up tempo instrumental break that reeks of glorious Dio period Sabbath. ‘The Desolate’, a real slow drag of a song has double the length, the same issue but even the instrumental section fails to reignite my attention alas. ‘Shadow Soul (The Awakening)’ begins nice and delicately before a huge great shovel of a riff pummels it through these floor. Much better, it just goes to show it is all about the riff with this kind of thing. Closing with the title song which takes a while to get going and never really grips me I’m left with a bit of a mixed bag here. On the one hand the vocal and instrumental parts are never less than class, and often exceptional. On the other hand with at least 20 minutes of songs I can never summon much enthusiasm for it leaves at least a bit of disappointment behind.
I think it’s because Pale Divine are capable of so much more.
(6.5/10 Gizmo)
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