Dead and Divine

For fans of Canada's Dead and Divine, the wait for third full-length Antimacy has felt like forever. From the initial auditory explosion of opening track "Asphyxia Fiend," it becomes immediately clear that the months of anticipation were in fact worth it. Integrating the intensity first heard on debut EP What Really Happened at Lovers Lane with the fondness for melody perfected on The Machines We Are, Dead and Divine have polished their musical approach. Matt Tobin's voice is relentless, shifting effortlessly from throaty growls to melodic interludes, effectively complementing his familiar lyrical themes of self-deprecation, love and faith lost. The pummelling rhythm section and racing guitars fiercely drive the album at a pace oftentimes resembling the unyielding energy of classic hardcore, evident on "Grim Love" and "Carcinoma." Instrumental track "Nothing is Alright" provides a well-deserved breather from the record's severity, but by no means eases up enough to sound out of place. Dead and Divine have given Antimacy their all, and the result isn't for the faint of heart.