Divine Ascension - As The Truth Appears
CD Info
2011
Nightmare Records / USA
10 Tracks
English Lyrics
How many times have we talked about Australian bands here at Sonic Cathedral? Not many, which is a shame on us. But now we have a reason to pay attention to "the land down under." That reason is Divine Ascension, a Melbourne-based sextet that’s part of the new generation of symphonic female-fronted metal: bands that evenly balance philharmonics with metal music and rely on vocalists who aren’t classically trained. Divine Ascension falls into this category – and with their debut album, As The Truth Appears, they prove that they’ve quickly become a major player in this genre.
As The Truth Appears isn’t just a one-dimensional symphonic metal record. Divine Ascension is actually a progressive symphonic metal band. In other words, they make use of prog’s unpredictable twists and turns to increase their music’s dynamism. The level focus on symphonics and metal also prevents Divine Ascension from becoming excessively bombastic, and allows the listener to hear details such as xylophones, bells, and brass and wind instruments. Equally as impressive is the band’s overall delivery on As The Truth Appears. Robb Inglis and Karl Szulik churn out a variety of guitar techniques and vibrant solos that heighten the thrill factor even further. And, lead singer Jennifer Borg gives one of the most salient performances I’ve heard all year. Her theater and cabaret training has helped her develop a powerful and emotive mid-range voice that quickly captivates you on each song.
Based on this description, it’s no surprise that the opening note of As The Truth Appears is a guitar hook. That hook belongs to the album’s first single, "Answers," a duet between Borg and Vanishing Point frontman Silvio Massaro. The two trade off lines and harmonize, sometimes sounding as if they’re pleading or arguing with one another. This alone is a great way to depict the lyrics’ story of a souring romance. However, add in the angry riffs, rhythmic interplay, and propulsive energy – and you can almost feel this couple’s love unraveling. "Answers" is so well executed in every way that it might be my favorite male/female metal duet of 2011.
The rest of As The Truth Appears is driven by the same musical passion. "Unscathed," "Visionary," and "In My Mind" all have lively tempos and terrific melodies. "In My Mind" in particular plunges into a socially conscious message with the help of Borg’s earnest vocals and Luke Wenczel’s double-kick drumming. Other uptempo highlights include "Guided by Osiris," a journey into Egyptian mythology that ends with bursts of guitars, cymbals, and strings; and "Vision Divine," the band’s deepest venture in progressive metal.
Borg’s best performances on As The Truth Appears come on the album’s two ballads. She’s especially endearing on "Garden of Evil," matching the music’s mysticism and sensuality note for note. And during the verses of "Another Battlefield," she shows how she’s mastered the high end of her vocal range. This track also has a pleasant surprise: Massaro returns for a cameo on backing vocals. His voice complements Borg’s very well and adds a hint of mystery to this ode about the world of dreams.
As The Truth Appears is such a joy from start to finish that it rarely goes astray. It does feature a couple odd elements (primarily the war chants on "One Last Caress") and one song that’s pleasant yet sleepy compared to the others ("Civilisation"). I also think it’s risky to have "Answers" as the album’s kick-off track. Anyone who picks up As The Truth Appears without knowing that Divine Ascension is female fronted might get the wrong impression that the band has two vocalists. Otherwise, the one general critique I have is on the songwriting. I enjoy most of the songs and think they are cleverly composed, but I still think they could be stronger. Divine Ascension’s skills in this area will improve over time, however, so this shouldn’t concern listeners too much.
Especially since As The Truth Appears is already a mind-blowing record. It shows Divine Ascension, a young band compared to most on the scene, excelling at creating its own identity in one of metal’s most congested genres. The balanced approach to symphonic metal, the progressive dabblings, and Borg’s heartfelt vocals make this record a majestic, exciting treat for the ears. Hopefully the high quality of As The Truth Appears will also ward off any cynicism or stereotyping that people often pitch at bands of this kind. Divine Ascension doesn’t deserve any of that. Instead, people should – and will – talk about the Australian band that’s a new rival to Epica, Nighwish, Within Temptation, and other symphonic heavyweights. That’s why you should go buy As The Truth Appears after October 11th – and thank Nightmare Records for gracing our shores with Divine Ascension.
8.75 / 10
Best Songs: "Answers," "In My Mind," "Garden of Evil," "Another Battlefield,"
Highly recommended for fans of symphonic and progressive metal bands such as Nightwish, Epica, After Forever, Kamelot, and Delain
As The Truth Appears is out on November 11th in North America via Nightmare Records and November 12th in Japan via Hydrant Music. Click on each record label’s name to order your copy now!
