Chaos Divine - Ratio EP (2006)

I listened to this EP five times through before I sat down to type. I am still listening as I type, racking my brains for a way to be give an honest review without sounding like a prick, but the truth must prevail... and in all honesty I am just not being reached here.

The thing is, there isn't really anything on Chaos Divines' "Ratio" that can be singled out as faulty. It starts off well, has beautiful slick production and a fat sound, quality artwork and profficient enough musicianship, there are even moments that are quite clever. As an example, there is a section in "disposable" around 1.45 that lasts for 30 seconds and is right on the money, and again about 4 minutes in, another 30 seconds that are really good. But the rest of the song is in my opinion unremarkable. It happens again in "Still Bleeding", a great section around 2:15 that lasts 30 seconds, but again the ambient guitars move in and rip the momentum away. "Obsidian eyes" has a ferocious start, and almost has enough strength to carry the entire album on its shoulders, but again the song keeps dissolving into unnecessary chilldowns that stop the song dead in its tracks.

And that is the ongoing theme of the EP, great moments squeezed in amongst the average ones.

Maybe it is just the style of the band. There ARE some good riffs here, and some very good drums, even if it possibly isn't Ben's best work. Chaos Divine aren't trying to be the heaviest band in the world, and their EP is a big deviation from the Perth metal bands pack because it is far more commercial in nature and sound direction that any other local product of the time. It is neither mellow nor particularly angry, it's sort of like an infusion of Anthrax and Tool, chunky, but smeared with atmospheric passages where the anger that there is just washed out for awhile. To be honest, I think the sparkly clean production values are detracting somewhat, blunting some of the sharp edges and diluting the aggression. The EP is not bad by any means, it just doesn't reach out for new ground or find fresh directions to explore. Clean vocals are always going to be a gamble in Metal, there is a bravery in trying to explore vocal possibilities, but personally I think Dave is better when his throat is breaking a bit.

I think the problem is that those of us who love Extreme metal are constantly being introduced to new and different interpretations of metal, new bands with new takes on the genre to refresh you and keep you true. New kinds of HEAVY are always being created, and if you choose to go down the route of commercialism rather than extremity, you are always going to alienate the angrier ones amongst us. That said, clearly I am in the minority, as "Ratio" and Chaos Divines' follow up album "Avalon" are getting them plenty of attention nationally, and some prize support slots, including Fear Factory and even Slayer.

I guess you gotta do what reaches you, and fuck the critics. Good on 'em.

Review by Jez.