Pale Divine - Eternity Revealed (Martyr Music)
By Chris Barnes
September 6, 2004

I think I’ve had the promo for this monster for 4 months. For some reason I couldn’t put the feelings into words. OK, and time was a factor too, I’m a busy guy, I got other shit going on, but mostly it was the ‘feelings to words’ thing. Sometimes I get awed enough by the magic of music to become aphasiac.

Eternity Revealed is massive. That’s the word that always comes to mind with I listen to the record. There is a lot to get your head around, and its full enjoyment potential doesn’t materialize until several listens in. The full scope and immensity just has to seep in, little by little. Eternity Revealed is the Three Mile Island of metal.

Pale Divine’s gift to doom-tinged metal is adding in a 70’s heavy psych flair and an unreal comprehension of the metal jam. I’ve always maintained these guys are the Allman Bros. of metal, and Eternity Revealed does nothing, thankfully, to change my mind. The complexity of the jams contained within are head-spinning, but the emotional power behind both these jams and the songs themselves are truly a gift.

Whereas their previous effort, Thunder Perfect Mind was an excellent work, it was hampered by…uh… less than austere production. This time they enlisted famed engineer to the DC scene, Chris Kozlowski, and the result is amazing. Eternity Revealed also has a more ‘metal’ feel than TPG, less groove and more dire. The fact that the PD’s also pulled a couple of tunes off of the famed (and also very dire) Crimson Tears demo and retooled ‘em a bit, helped color Eternity…. a bit darker than it’s predecessor.

And riffs… there is more riffs per song on ER than most modern Death Metal opuses. It’s staggering. Each song is a friggin’ rollercoaster with highs, lows, plateaus, sudden twists and sudden drops… massive. That’s it. Massive.

An exceptional release, definitely in my top ten for the year.


Purchase Eternity Revealed at the Hellride Music Superstore

Read the Hellride Music interview with Pale Divine

Visit the Pale Divine website at www.paledivine.com

Endless Mike

Just listened. This is indeed one massive slab of awesomeness. Definately one of the best albums of the year.

Kevin

Hey, I've got a copy of this coming.....

__________________
Now wait a minute, I can't change attitudes!

Kevin

Band: Pale Divine
Album: Eternity Revealed
Format: CD
Label: Martyr 0045-2
Time: 52 Minutes
Year; 2004

Track List:
Morphia
Crimson Tears
Sins of the Fallen
martyrdom
Blind Faith
Serpent's Path
Ever After
Drowned Out
Lord of Sorrow
Solitude

Band Site: www.paledivine.com

Pale Divine's previous long player, 'Thunder Perfect Mind,' was at the top of my list of best albums of 2002. Thats a big call in the stoner/doom world, which produces so much of the planet's best music. If time has taught me anything since then, its that I occasionally make the right call. Heh. 'Thunder' has withstood the test of time without even a hint of effort. It stands as one of the best debut albums of all time, an inspirational, doomed-out collection of metal that traces its lineage back decades to Sabbath through Pentagram on the one hand and to classic early 70s hard rock on the other. I simply could not say enough good things about the album then, and I can't now. Pale Divine is one of that elusive handful of groups with what Chris Barnes calls "The X-Factor," that elusive quality that includes songwriting genius and instrumental ability, combining to form a chemistry that creates magic. Like pornography, you can't describe it but you know it when you hear it. I include groups like Solace, The Rubes, St. Vitus, and Colour Haze (among others) in this select group. If this makes sense to you, then you'd better take your cold miser's hand off your wallet and spring for both 'Thunder Perfect Mind' and 'Eternity Revealed,' because these albums bear riches far beyond the measly $10 or $15.00 you'll pay for them.

One of the most interesting things about 'Eternity' is that the group has elected to go back and rework their hard-to-find tape from the 90s, 'Crimson Tears.' The songs are now quite different: heavier, richer, and more rewarding than the somewhat thin-sounding tuneage from that rare cassette. What's even more interesting is the picture this paints of the group. They view their back catalog as available for reinterpretation, yet their style has really not changed that much. They're still throwing down the amazing doom-tinged metal they were doing when they formed almost 10 years ago. The new songs are in the same vein as 'Thunder,' but perhaps a shade darker and more metallic than before. In other words, the group sharpens and refines their sound but doesn't change radically. Why should they? They've got one of the best presentations in music, with the chops to back it up. And don't forget their excellent cover of Candlemass' doom anthem 'Solitude.' Guitarist and singer Greg Diener proves that he can stand with doom greats such as Wino, Victor Griffin, Dale Flood and Kelly Carmichael, whipping out complex riffs and the dancing solos that are his trademark. Drummer and group spokesman Darin McCloskey is the perfect counterpoint on drums, providing complex fills but never intruding, while long-time bassist Jim Corl gives weight and authority to the music, offering up the rhythmic drive that helps make the band a unique entity. And don't forget the stunning artwork by the group's "silent" fourth member, Brian Tutlo. I'd like to see it on a full-length vinyl release, or at the very least on a Tee.

None of this would matter, of course, if Pale Divine couldn't come up with the goods. But of course they can, and they do. There's no point in going into further detail, really, because there's something more going on in this music than mere chops and songwriting. If you're up for it, this music can connect you with another reality, a higher reality, a psychedelically-inspired world that plugs you into the very essence of existence. How do they do it? By projecting themselves into the music until they become one with it, allowing it to directly express their thoughts. You may think I'm blowing smoke here, but this is straight up! The lyrics are idealistic and angry, condemning all those who've betrayed us while constructing our world out of deception and lies for their own benefit. In that sense PD is like The Hidden Hand, calling it like they see it. Other useful touchstones are Pentagram, Trouble, Obsessed, Uriah Heep, Budgie, Internal Void, Witchfinder General, and Iron Maiden. The point is, this is spiritual music, the word made flesh. But if you're not into that, it works as doom-tinged metal as well.

OK, I've gone on long enough (though I could easily go on longer). Once again Pale Divine has made an album that will surely qualify as one of the year's best, along with the new Colour Haze, Hidden Hand, Internal Void, and the Starchild/Rebreather split. There are others. In the meantime, the onus is on you to buy, beg, borrow or steal - whatever it takes - to get this album. These guys have been under-heard long enough.

Kevin McHugh

__________________
Now wait a minute, I can't change attitudes!

Darin

Thanks Kevin...you're the only one allowed to review our stuff. You are now the "official" fifth member of the band..your job is to review us! LOL...Seriously, thanks again man!

__________________
"Mr. President, this is a big fucking deal,"
-Joe Biden

www.paledivineband.com
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Kevin

The pleasue is all mine. Just keep 'em coming!

__________________
Now wait a minute, I can't change attitudes!