Review Summary: An exciting entry into tech-death from a duo with fantastic potential.
The realm of the internet has opened up countless possibilities for up-and-coming artists. It has not only allowed for the newcomers to make names for themselves, but also allowed for bands to be formed via the net. One such example is 'Planetary Divide'. Consisting of only two members, 'Planetary Divide''s debut EP, 'Origin' packs a quite a punch and is definitely worth the listen for any fans of technical death metal.
The EP lets it be known exactly what to expect within the opening seconds of 'Perfect Failure'. An ambiance leads into harmonized, atonal brutality. The riffs are a solid blast and considering the technicality of the guitar play, the tempo is comfortable enough to get heads banging. Subtle uses of orchestra greatly increase the density and scale of the tracks. 'Perfect Failure' is the perfect opener as it displays all the strengths of the band and gives an overall idea of the EP, while being a standout track.
The EP is guitar-driven, as all music is written by guitarist Marcell Roncsák. The guitar work here is remarkable. While at times it relies too heavily on atonal melodies, the harmonies are near-perfectly executed and there is a fantastic balance between the more simple riffs and the complex, technical chops. The guitar tone and playing style are a hybrid of technical death metal and deathcore: crunchy and thick lows, cleaner highs that allow every blisteringly-fast solo to be fully appreciated. The breakdowns showcase a more generic side of play, but are still enjoyable and spread out enough to be exciting when they arrive.
Before ripping it to shreds, understand that the drum programming in this EP is very convincing. The snare may be the primary offender but it does pack a meaty punch alongside the rest of the kick. It has been produced very well and goes almost unnoticed amidst the surrounding instrumentation and vocal work. In regards to the vocal work by second and final member of 'Planetary Divide', Bryson Beert, it is a fairly solid affair. The lows and highs are both decent and well positioned. It is an emotional performance and works well in the context of the music. 'Into Infinity' is the best example of the vocal variety.
While the tracks on 'Origins' may be sporadic at times, the style and theme of each track is distinguishable which in itself, is a commendable effort by modern standards. The EP is very consistent in quality; an attribute that could cement 'Planetary Divide' into the scene with further releases. And while the influence of 'The Faceless' is very apparent in this EP, it still manages to hold its ground. The production is strong enough for an EP drawing inspiration from both technical death metal and deathcore, and the guitar work is brilliant. While generic at times, 'Planetary Divide' definitely have a unique sound somewhere between spacey tech-death and deathcore and is a sound that does justice to both sub-genres. A fantastic work for a debut (free!) release and a band to keep on your radar for days to come!
