Pale Divine--Thunder Perfect Mind
Game Two 2001
When a band comes along possessing a singular confidence and originality which makes the style they're playing more fresh and exciting than it was before, all the time you spent wading through less convincing sounds to discover them feels like a worthwhile quest. Listening to Thunder Perfect Mind, the debut album from Pale Divine, is one of those times. With a single shot, this band has catapulted themselves straight into the upper eschelon of the pure doom hierarchy--though it may seem at first glance they had a major assist, upon close listen, it is clear the victory is entirely their own.
Pale Divine's sound, beyond the fact Bobby Liebling makes two appearances on this record, is rooted in the Pentagram style of doom. However, Pale Divine mixes this with a Judas Priest influence and their own originality to create a sound that is entirely their own. The result is absolutely astonishing--pure doom, near flawless in composition and performance, recorded wet (reverb heavy) with power and conviction. The song "Pale Divine" is without question one of the finest moments of doom ever committed to tape.
If the eight songs Pale Divine wrote entirely on their own weren't enough, the two songs on Thunder Perfect Mind featuring contributions from the legendary Liebling will surely convince any nonbelievers that Pale Divine can hang with ease at the top of the doom heap. Their cover of the Pentagram classic "20 Buck Spin" is a real winner with Bobby taking a vocal turn on the second verse. The real gem, though, is the final track of the CD, "Dark Knight"--a Pale Divine tune with lyrics penned and sung by Liebling. This song is amazing and could stand toe-to-toe with any classic Pentagram track.
The greatest testament to the quality of this CD is that if the two tracks with Liebling were removed, Thunder Perfect Mind would still be an instant classic. The fact that this is Pale Divine's first output and that a possibility for progression beyond this point exists is thrillingly frightening. This album is essential listening.
Score this CD directly from GAME TWO
|
