Vision Divine
The Perfrect Machine

January 2006
Released: 2006, Scarlet Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: MetalChick

This album makes me sad that I didn't see the Vision Divine set at this year's ProgPower USA. If their live performance is anything like the studio output, it must have made for a great show. An excellent mix of progressive and power metal, the band's fourth album is a concept focusing on the distant future and what would happen if humans became immortal. Thankfully they didn't incorporate very many spacey keyboards like you;d find in Arjen Lucassen’s STAR ONE and Richard Andersson’s SPACE ODYSSEY. Granted this isn't a space album, but that keyboard effect always gives the feeling of futuristic atmosphere. Vision Divine just stuck with the metal way.



Now, forgive me for this next comparison. In many of the songs, the way the vocals are layered creates a choir like effect that reminds me of…yes…the ABBA musical, MAMMA MIA. The most blatant example is "Rising Sun," the chorus of which has an eerie similarity to "Gimme, Gimme." This vocal layering is a common occurrence throughout all their songs, but not so strong that I'm reminded of the unfortunate reason why I actually know the ABBA musical.



All that aside, Vision Divine consists of tight, imaginative songwriting both musically and lyrically, a fast fingered guitarist and keyboardist, and a top notch vocalist. They incorporate one of my favorite styles – piano and heavy guitars – and I should mention that a concept story one might think would be cheesy does not come across as such. It's creative metal.