Divine Decay
Maximize the Misery

November 2003
Released: 2003, Osmose
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Rick

Balls out, take no prisioners thrash is the order of the day on the latest CD called MAXIMIZE THE MISERY from Devine Decay. I had been curious about this band since reading staff colleague Luxi Lahtinen’s review of their set at the Tuska Festival this summer past. What I heard when I finally got the disc didn’t disappoint. For my Halloween quote I will use the words of the immortal geek Roger from the cult horror classic TRICK OR TREAT to describe Divine: Decay as “LOUD, FAST AND THRASHIN”. And that is exactly what they are. Steeped in the Bay Area sound, Devine: Decay approach their music from a modern direction that puts their influences on the line but adds enough of a new twist to garner repeated listens.



While listening to this CD it is hard to keep from banging your head. Divine: Decay have crafted 11 songs that beg me to ask, why isn’t this group more well known? After a short intro called “Icons Fall” the pedal is put to the metal with “Weave a Web of Vanity”, which is followed by the even more aggressive “Without a Soul”. The crunching production of Janne Joutsenniemi fits the band perfectly while the razor edge added by the mixing Miko Karmila (Knightwish, Children of Bodom) helps to highlight the power of the Divine: Decay. A standout track on Maximize the Misery is the title track. It has a schizophrenic personality that focuses on the bands penchant for speed but adds in their great feel for a catchy riff. This song is chock full of them and the solo by former Gandalf guitarist Stig Evil is one of his best on the disc. Other notable tracks are the blazing “Dead in Me” and groovy “Filth”.



While there are many thrash bands out there today they are often overshadowed by their thrash/death metal hybrid cousins. Divine: Decay are out to set things straight. Once upon a time thrash was the heaviest of metal genres but over the years it has been eclipsed by faster and heavier acts in death and black metal. With MAXIMIZE THE MISERY Devine: Decay have put the focus squarely back on the heyday of thrash while taking the sound in a slightly more modern direction.