ALBUM REVIEW: Deadly Fun (Deluxe) – Dark Divine
DARK DIVINE are back with a deadlier version of their album Deadly Fun. The original album came out last year, but that wasn’t enough for their fanbase of “Reapers”. The Floridian hardcore rockers embrace the theatrics when building worlds to accompany the music they create – think MOTIONLESS IN WHITE with the cinematic visual flare of ICE NINE KILLS. The band have had nothing but success since their debut EP, producing hit singles such as Halloweentown and Circles. They have also been keeping good company, sharing the stage with bands such as FAMOUS LAST WORDS, THE WORD ALIVE and HOLDING ABSENCE.
The initial release of Deadly Fun inspected themes like toxicity in relationships, grief and moving past tough times. A track that has been revisited on the deluxe edition is Cold, this time providing the listener with a cinematic interpretation of the already much-loved track. The heavy track delves into the emotions felt when losing someone: “These haunting memories they’re all that I can see / You love to watch me bleed / So tell me, do you hate me?”.
The cinematic adaptation adds another layer of vulnerability. Combining softer vocals from Anthony Martinez with gentle pianos in the intro transforms the song. In both the original and the cinematic version Martinez demonstrates his vocal talents. Angelic falsettos are followed by belting screams. There is beautiful soundscaping achieved in this new version as if the instruments are answering his tired questions.
Burn The Witch, one of two new tracks on the record, was released as a single earlier this year. In true DARK DIVINE fashion, it is filled to the brim with creativity and theatrics. The video itself being enchanting and enigmatic, once again adding to the story of the track. The listener gets pulled in by the visuals while being grounded by the lyrics. The emphatic nature in how the song is sung is like a reminder to not be fooled by this ‘witch’ – she cannot be trusted. Though DARK DIVINE are wonderfully talented at telling a story through their songs alone they really shine when given full creative freedom in videos and live performances.
Other than grief and loss the band delve into critiques of today’s society, with Hive Mind being a song that looks at the selfishness that can consume communities, all the while having fun with the music, mimicking the frantic nature of a hive. Their latest single and second unique addition to the album is Digital Numb. The song essentially feels like a calling out of society, addressing the dangers of being chronically online, the doom scrolling combined with self-worth quantified by engagement stats. As Martinez puts it, “This song is a declaration of self-analysis and rejection of the control that we have been put under through our technologically centred lives.”
DARK DIVINE are a band that bring a sentiment of anguish mixed with a sincere notion of understanding to their tracks. The additional tracks to this deluxe version of the album act as a reminder that this band is no one trick pony, while the reimagined tracks demonstrate just how much vision they have and their ability to convey a different atmosphere in a song by simply changing the music not the lyrics.
Rating: 7/10
Deadly Fun (Deluxe) was released on October 4th via Thriller Records.
Like DARK DIVINE on Facebook.