Review A LIFE DIVIDED ‘Down the Spiral of a Soul’

German modern metal outfit A Life Divide is everything but a rookie. Hailing from Bavaria, the five-piece has been founded in 2003, which means they contribute to the modern metal scene for two decades now. Six records, that is the track record so far and the next longplayer is recorded, packaged, and shipped.

‘Down the Spiral of a Soul’ is the title of the bands newest, an eleven-songs featuring longplayer that shows the entire width of sound of the Munich-based band. The first noticeable thing is the powerful and booming sound of the album. The opener ‘Last Man Standing’, also the first single taken from the album, manifests a booming sound. Heavier it gets with a modern metal hymn called ‘Best Times’, a song that combines melodic vocal lines with some heavy riffing.

Impressive is the up-tempo ‘Disorder’ which belongs to the heaviest tracks on the album. The song is a massive aural attack which shows that A Life Divided can also act beyond the synth including sounds. Compared to ‘Disorder’ the next title, ‘Thanks for Nothing’, comes more as toothless tiger. With its poppy melodies, the song is a counterpart to the massive ‘Disorder’.

‘Send Me an Angel’ is a cover version that found a place on the album. Real Life, from Australia, could reach the top of the German charts in 1983 and A Life Divided give this smash hit some new life. Not too far away from the original version, the A Life Divided interpretation is more rocking and heavier.

The piano starts the title track, that is placed at the end of this longplayer. It’s a darkened beginning of a song that slowly builds up while keeping the atmospheric pattern from start to end.

A Life Divided deliver a rock solid album that is in line with the earlier releases. A bit darker than some of the previous longplayers, the newest offering entails all the bands trademarks and the ones of you who loved the band in the past will also be satisfied of what A Life Divided offer with ‘Down the Spiral of a Soul’.