DIVIDED // RISER - LTD. WHITE W/ GREY MARBLE VINYL

DIVIDED // RISER - LTD. WHITE W/ GREY MARBLE  VINYL

RELEASE DATE:  April 8, 2022

It isn’t every day we sign a band for their debut release, but it also isn’t every day we get submissions from bands like Divided. This young Belgian group comes out of the gate with confidence, capability, and swagger to spare on this fiery EP. Riser boasts a harmonious marriage of the best elements of post-rock, post-metal, and post-hardcore – think Cult of Luna doing an album of The Bled covers and you’ll be on the right track. The aggressively assertive vocals kick the door down with an irresistible combination of scorn and style, and behind them looms a ferocious rhythm section complemented superbly by scorching guitars. Somehow, even within this muscular, imposing swirl of sheer force, the band manages to fold in memorable melodies that add a crucial element to the overall impact. In doing so they further demonstrate the absolute control they hold over what presents as an otherwise entirely untamed performance.

From the opening moments of “I See You, You’re On Fire,” there is a provocative spirit that manifests which sets Divided apart from the usual austerity one would expect from post-metal artists. The bass and hi-hat pulsing in tandem during the tense intro harken to the seething volatility of hardcore shows, the kind where audience and artist are virtually face to face, and the space between them could evaporate at any moment. This tireless intensity continues throughout, and can be seen burning brightly as the building tension of “Slumberland”’s intro explodes into its impassioned first verse, during the gutsy climax of “Gnaw,” or on any number of other memorable moments spread over the four songs that comprise the EP.

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