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Murder of My Sweet, The: Divanity

Symphonic/Goth Rock/Metal

Rating: 3.75/5.0

Frontiers
www.themurderofmysweet.com
www.myspace.com/themurderofmysweet
Review: Craig Hartranft,  02.08.2010

The field of female-fronted rock bands has gotten a bit more crowded, and the battle for supremacy a little more heated. The Murder of My Sweet is the creation of Mind's Eye drummer Daniel Flores, and features the bold and soaring vocals of Angelica Rylin. Divanity, their premier work, is a departure from anything like the progressive metal of Mind's Eye. The Murder of My Sweet fits better with bands like Evanescence, Within Temptation and, more likely, the music Lacuna Coil has been doing since Shallow Life. The elements of their sound are fundamental: large riffs, a pounding rhythm section, a liberal use of quirky keyboards, and Rylin's impressive vocal presence. These, in turn, are wrapped up in huge symphonic and bombastic arrangements that come at you like the 1st Armored Division of the American Army. No Evil, One Bullet and, the magnum opus, Death of a Movie Star are undeniable examples.

Here and there, as on Kiss of Death, Storms of the Sea, and Destiny, TMOMS adds some catchy melodies and choruses. Otherwise, from first to last, the movement on Divanity advances with bombarding authority, and I think that's what Flores had in mind from the start. The dilemma, however, is that this pacing doesn't allow for a segregation or differentiation between songs and, therefore, does not allow for genuine appreciation of the songs. For instance, I never would have picked out the subtle pop power of Bleed Me Dry or the traditional metal foundations of Revolution without repeated listens and even some momentary pauses. Nevertheless, the impact of The Murder of My Sweet is undeniable: the lavish bombastic songs powered by Angelica Rylin's vivacious presence and vocals makes Divanity a formidable debut.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The impact of The Murder of My Sweet is undeniable: the lavish bombastic songs powered by Angelica Rylin's vivacious presence and vocals makes Divanity a formidable debut.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]