(progressive metal) Divine Ruins - Sign Of The Times - 2004, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Out of the USA comes the Progressive Metalband DIVINE RUINS. Their CD "Sign Of The Times" has just been released on the new US Progmetal label LONE WOLF MUSIC. 5 songs were actually recorded in 2000/2001, while the songs were written back in 1997, and the 3 additional tracks were recorded in 1997.

Nevertheless what we get to hear here is good decent melodic Progressive Metal a la BALANCE OF POWER meets ENCHANT. The vocals by singer/songwriter RONNIE STIXX are quite good, so are the guitarparts by guitarist Drew Creel. The album itself is a sort of mini-concept, dealing about a sci-fi topic, with thousands of people dissappearing from the earth in one night. Songs like "Sign Of The Times", "Carpe Diem" and "Shine On" are very good Melodic Progressive Metal songs (with some neo-prog influences). Also quite nice is the straight-forward pure 80s Melodic Hardrocksong "Take My Soul", which sounds quite different than the rest of the more progressive material of the CD.

This is definitely a recommended Progrock/metal piece, and let's hope a follow-up with new material will be released in the near future...

Strutter'Zine

Ronnie Stixx - vocals
Drew Creel - guitars
Charles Schultz - keyboards
Perry Arnn - bass
Mark Reyes - drums