CoC : Divine Sin - Thirteen Souls : Review

Divine Sin - _Thirteen Souls_
(Black Mark, 1997)
by: Adrian Bromley (6 out of 10)

It has been more than a year since I reviewed the debut album _Winterland_ (CoC #9) by Sweden's Divine Sin and while I felt the record was mediocre at the time (it garnered a 6 out of 10), I still had some interest in hearing where the band had progressed with their music. My analysis of _TS_? Not much has changed, to tell you the truth. Much like the debut album, which was drenched in a total progressive metal atmosphere - but still high on intensity and slightly death-ish growls -, so is _TS_. Changes, you ask? Well, the band's vocals are a little rougher this time out and definitely the musicianship has risen within the band through experience, but at the same time the album is still plagued with some tarnished areas. The main problem I have with this sophomore release is the band's use of standard metal riffs and vocal styling throughout it. Not that it's overflowing with cliches, it's just that the band sometimes showcases a 'standard' brand of metal that we have seen over and over. I think that with a little more originality and less flash at times (listen to some of the riffs and you'll understand) this would be an okay record. Some of the best tracks are: "Dreams of Oblivion" and "Emotionless".

(article published 16/10/1997)

ALBUMS
4/18/1996	A Bromley	6	Divine Sin - Winterland