Reviewed by Andy Shaw

Formed in 2010 by three brothers (Gerard, Christopher and Joseph Mora) from San Antonio, Texas, this is the debut full length studio album for Darkness Divided. The project have all the elements you would expect to find on a metalcore album. There are the chugging guitar riffs, screaming verses, clean choruses and the occasional breakdown. With so many bands working the hardcore genre in recent years it has become ever more difficult to stand out from the crowd and avoid getting dismissed as generic. Darkness Divided definitely have a lot going for them with the lead guitar particularly strong, typified by the impressive technical solos sprinkled through the record on tracks like "Withering Kingdom" and "Divine Mercy". The songwriting is also strong with changes in tempo and dynamic coming just at the right time to keep your attention. As soon as they have your head nodding to the beat, they change the beat and make you stop and take notice. Right from the off, following intro track "Severance", the record explodes into life with the rip-roaring "The Shepherd's Hands" offering heavy riffs and machine gun drums. The intensity is maintained throughout the record, even when the tempo drops the tension bubbles on under the surface like a volcano waiting to erupt. The passion of the music is reflected in the God-focused lyrics with the message coming across strongly through the noise of "The Hands That Bled" ("My salvation was written in blood"). This record doesn't break any new musical ground but its unflinching spiritual message is to be applauded.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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