Divided Multitude have been a united concern for roughly 15 years now having originally formed in Brekstad, Norway in 1995. 'Guardian Angel' is their third full length album. Previous releases 'Inner Self' from 1999 and 'Falling To Pieces' from 2002 preceeded a brief hiatus started in 2004 which saw the guys taking a step back from action. During this time they played only a handful of gigs per year until renewed enthusiasm surrounding the latest demo for a track called 'Guardian Angel' saw them heading back into the studio in late 2008 to record a brand new album of titanic tunes.

 
A progressive power metal war horse, Divided Multitude would be best described to the uninitiated as a hybrid of In Flames, Nevermore and, due to Eskild Kløften's stunningly effective keyboard work, Dream Theater. Other elements too remind me somewhat of one time British metal band Excalibur should anyone remember them. 'Guardian Angel' would sit comfortably in many a progressive fan's racks. Though not as immediate to please as some other metal records from the genre the collection of tunes on offer here are certainly growers. And the sound? Mastered by Jacob Hansen, the guy who did The Wildhearts 'Chutzpah' album and Leatherwolf's 'World Asylum/New World Asylum' albums, it's a full fisted sonic blow to the face, every ounce of space utilised to create a multi layered sound fuller than Gene Simmons' stuffed cod piece.

 
Crashing into action, after the swift tension building intro track 'Resurrection', 'Nowhere To Hide' is soon ablaze with Fjord filling riffage and enough cymbal smashing to make you think someone's ram raiding the Paiste showroom. A turbulent ocean of sound rising from the mellower verses to the tidal wave of power that comes crashing through with the chorus. A change down in gear to the slower pace of 'Senses' displaying almost Rush-like moments at times before 'Something For Someone' and 'Regrets' join forces to provide the best tracks yet aired. A brace of fine, bruising chuggers laced with sound storms of melodic guitar harmonies interspaced with more of Kløften's synth magic. Sindre Antonsen's powerful vocals all the while cutting through the metal like a full force blow torch. 

An brief atmospheric 'Interludium' provides a short breather before what us oldies would call "Side 2" of the album kicks in with 'My Dying Hour'. The game plan remains unchanged for the second half with more of the same delivered. Yet with it remaining sounding fresh and clinically precise it never drags or sounds repetitive. And with most of the tracks clocking in at over six minutes stagnation would be a feat easily achieved by lesser musicians. As it stands Divided Multitude will certainly stay rocking my Über-möbile for a good few weeks yet if my speakers can take the pounding. So throw a few coins in the Norwegian pot and treat yourselves to a 'Guardian Angel' cos you get a hell of a lotta metal for your brass. 


www.myspace.com/dividedmultitude