CoC : Divine Empire - Method of Execution : Review

Divine Empire - _Method of Execution_
(Century Media, 2005)
by: Jackie Smit (8 out of 10)

There's no doubt about it: Divine Empire have hit the mark in a big way with _Method of Execution_. Where their previous release, 2003's _Nostradamus_, rarely amounted to more than a lacklustre carnival of mostly bog-standard, recycled US death metal riffola, the fourth release by this Floridian outfit kicks off in a decidedly more adventurous and interesting manner. Indeed, anyone who is familiar with the band's previous work will no doubt be surprised at the keyboard backing that accompanies the album's opening track, "Vowed Revenge". The band's creative evolution doesn't end with a few synth lines either. Elsewhere on the record, Divine Empire -- who incidentally are fronted by former Malevolent Creation growler Jason Blachowicz -- flirt with everything from classical guitar to Opeth-like prog-rock. Yet fans of straightforward brutality needn't feel cast aside, as the band have evolved their old-school approach considerably, cranking out the aggression on tracks like "The Mauler" and "Terror Zone". At nearly one hour in length, the album does run a little long though, but such a complaint is pedantic. Something, somewhere has stoked the fires of invention, and one can only hope that whatever that muse turns out to be, the band have plenty more of it on tap for their next record.

Contact: http://www.metalasylum.com/divine/

(article published 19/4/2005)

ALBUMS
1/25/2004	J Smit	7	Divine Empire - Nostradamus

GIGS
8/31/2003	A McKay	Dying Fetus / Skinless / Divine Empire / Misery Index / Stavross	A Mini Milwaukee
8/12/1999	A Wasylyk	Emperor / Witchery / Borknagar / Peccatum / Divine Empire	Canada: No Church-Burners Allowed
8/12/1999	J Weathers	Emperor / Witchery / Borknagar / Peccatum / Divine Empire	U.S. of A.: Church-Burners Are People Too