Let’s face it, the attention span of a goldfish looks positively Shakespearean compared to the average music listener these days. We’re bombarded with bite-sized content, dopamine hits disguised as 30-second snippets. Enter Belgian newcomers Divided, whose debut album, “Light Will Shine,” is a sprawling sonic odyssey that demands – and rewards – your patience.
Divided isn’t interested in playing by the rules of instant gratification. Their sound is a glorious, messy amalgamation of influences – post-metal, post-hardcore, shoegaze – thrown into a blender and set to puree. It’s a record that recalls the heady days of post-rock’s glory era, where bands like Isis and Cult of Luna wove intricate tapestries of sound. But Divided adds a healthy dose of youthful exuberance to the mix, their music surging with a raw and primal energy that keeps things from getting too navel-gazing.
Imagine a band that sounds like a brawl between Converge and My Bloody Valentine, with a dash of Deafheaven thrown in for good measure. That’s the kind of sonic territory Divided occupies. The opening track, “Cinder,” is a perfect microcosm of the album’s DNA. A pummeling riff lays the foundation, while singer/drummer Pepijn Vandaele unleashes a captivating display of vocal gymnastics, shifting between soaring screams and rabid barks. It’s a full-frontal assault on the senses, but one that’s undeniably thrilling.
Not everything on “Light Will Shine” is a full-throttle assault. Tracks like “Days Undone (So Long)” and “The City Slowly Undresses” showcase the band’s ability to simmer and simmer, building tension before exploding into cathartic crescendos. “The Vicious Loop” is a ten-minute behemoth that takes the listener on a journey through crushing post-hardcore sludge and ethereal shoegaze soundscapes. It’s a testament to Divided’s songwriting prowess that a track this long can hold your attention, but they manage it with aplomb.
The album closes with “Sleepers,” a stripped-back shoegaze ballad that finds Vandaele confronting his anxieties head-on. It’s a moment of vulnerability that feels earned after the sonic pummeling that precedes it. Vandaele’s vocals, raw and evocative, bring to mind Mark Lanegan at his most affecting.
“Light Will Shine” is a record that demands your full attention, a commitment that many listeners might be unwilling to make in today’s fast-paced world. But for those who are willing to take the plunge, Divided offers a richly rewarding experience. It’s a record that will stay with you long after the last note fades, a testament to the power of music to transport, challenge, and ultimately, move us.
