Hellven
Divine Dichotomy
2008
Independent release
If you were to take
Wrathchild America, strip away the jazzy parts, then add some old AC/DC, old
Black Sabbath, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, some other grittier Rock and
Metal bands, and added a shitload of sarcastic humor you would have Glendale,
Arizona’s Hellven!! Up for review is their third CD “Divine Dichotomy”!
Right off the bat this
band doesn’t waste anytime they get right to the point with the first song
“Bless It” A catchy, raucous goof on life after death then goes right into
“Punish the Poor”. The lyrics on this album will have you going back to the CD
player to back track a bit to make sure you heard the lyrics right, and then
laugh manically when you hear it again.
This isn’t super high
speed stuff, but then again, that isn’t a bad thing either, nor is the kind of
Rock tinged Metal like Glam. This is gritty, raw, catchy, and well structured.
The vocals fit and don’t
stray from the path the song is going from, lyrics that are to the point,
satirical, and sarcastic, even parts of the music are pretty sarcastic if you
know what to listen for. The guitars are just solid, leads not too boring nor
over extended, the bass just laying a good foundation, and the drums are just
keeping the rhythms solid and together.
Some parts kind of remind
me of the more groove Rock type of stuff that Cathedral has done, but not being
a clone of that band or completely copying that style.
Three tracks stand out are
“Bless It”, “Punish the Poor”, “Headless Beauty”, and the awesome, blast as loud
as possible track “You Kicked My Ass”. How can you even argue with a song title
like that?!
Bug this band for copies
of “Divine Dichotomy”, you will not be disappointed! If they’re playing near you
check them out! Highly recommended!
