Reviewed by Ian Webber

This second release from Greek metallers Diviner builds on what was a well-received debut back in 2015. Firmly set on a traditional power metal sound, these tracks find their foundations in an irrepressible pounding of drums and lead singer Yiannis Papanikolaou's distinctive vocals. Sounding not unlike Rey Parra of Sacred Warrior, there is an almost operatic note to his voice which roars and drives through the tracks. Opening with the bombastic "Against The Grain", guitars riff and fill the overall sound with some intricate rhythms. There is certainly a European feel to the tracks with cuts such as "The Earth, The Moon, The Sun" having an almost Scandinavian power metal groove. A more moody and darker sound can be heard on "King Of Masquerade" which has a theatrical quality to its storytelling. Closing the album is the ballad "Stargate" which also features some catchy hooks and a chunky groove that builds to the close. On every track, sung in English, the band's faith is evident and challenges the listener directly. On initial listens to the recording I was impressed by this five-piece's songwriting skills and musicianship. I do however feel that they have been let down a little with the album's production which sounds muffled at times. For this style of metal, I prefer a crisp and immediate sound. While this minor gripe does shift my rating down a notch, fans of power metal will still enjoy the classy feel of these well written tracks.

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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