Dallas doom/death metal act Divine Eve has been highly revered in this column, and for good reason, since their Celtic Frost-channeling, d-beat death metal represents some of the best in the Texas metal underground. Likewise, Vex’s progressive take on extreme metal is fascinating and quite unique, always offering up something new to the listener. Having witnessed a killer Vex performance in Austin on Friday (where your humble author acquired a copy of this split), it’s safe to say that a review of the 2012 split between Vex and Divine Eve was in order, and the release easily maintains the quality that both bands are known for. Curiously, this is not the first time that these two bands have released a split album together, as more vigilant devotees of these acts will note their 2010 split release which contained a similar track listing to this release. Nonetheless, this new split is well worth purchasing, as music offered by the two bands is simply too good to pass up.Divine Eve initiates this split with four tracks originating from their “Vengeful and Obstinate” EP, one of whom features none other than Sir Proscriptor McGovern of Absu. The song in question (“Whispers of Fire”) also happens to have the most energetic riffing on the album, with punky drumming and guitar playing that goes straight for the throat. This song is old-school to the core, with raspy vocals shouting over vicious power chords that serve the song well. Despite the somewhat thrashy direction that “Whispers of Fire” displays, doom fans need not worry about the band losing its touch at playing slow grooves, as tracks like “The Ravages of Heathen Man” demonstrate. The song creates a regal atmosphere that also contains some very eerie guitar parts aided by intense drumming, and it certainly closes out their half of the split in a well-executed way. The songs on this split are somewhat more diverse in terms than on the landmark “As The Angels Weep” EP, which had a more consistent songwriting style.Production-wise, the guitar tone isn’t quite as crunchy as “As The Angels Weep”, although it is still quite crushing, and the riffing is highly sinister as a result. The vocal style is highly fitting of the music, and there isn’t anything on the split that even comes close to a weak track. In particular, the lead guitar playing should be hailed, as the solos on this split fit their backing rhythms perfectly, and are very old-school in essence. The overall mix of extreme styles benefits Divine Eve well, and it’s safe to say that the four songs present on this split should easily win over those who are unfamiliar with Divine Eve.While following Divine Eve is no easy task, Vex are easily up to the challenge, producing three songs of excellent quality that easily keep the metal vibe rolling. Without question, the standout track on the Vex side of the split is “Wasteland”, a seven-and-a-half minute epic that contains everything from clean-picked guitars to crashing chugging sections and an incredibly memorable riff which has the potential to be stuck in one’s head for months at a time. One notable thing about “Wasteland” is the fact that so many structural variations that are present - even though it may sound like a riff is being repeated, there’s usually a slight difference that adds flavor to the song’s presentation. The other two songs on the EP, “No Such Thing” and “The Circular Ruins” both showcase a catchy sense of composition that blends progressively-intricate hooks and traditional metal riffing in order to deliver a fusion that is truly like no other. Guitarists Michael Day and Ciaran McCloskey play off each other’s strengths and showcase effected guitar licks, emotional chord progressions, and flashy fretboard gymnastics, and the end result is idyllic for fans of progressive extreme metal. The rhythm section is clearly well-versed in their craft, mixing interplay with the bass guitar and percussion to craft an intriguing base on top of which the guitars and vocals reside.The production on Vex’s side of the split puts the guitars at a front-and-center position of the mix, while the low-rumble of the five-string bass collides with the percussive assault to mesh together in a refined stew, while the vocals are at a perfect spot in the mix, offering up a diverse blend of deathy growls and mid-range shrieks. The production allows the chops of the musicians on this split to shine through and simultaneously impress and connect with the listener, a goal that all progressive metal acts should aim for.NOTE: According to Vex, the track listing on their side of the CD is actually incorrect, so keep that in mind when listening.This split should easily be seen as a recommended purchase for all fans of Texas metal. Whether you prefer the more traditional doom/death of Divine Eve or the progressive attack of Vex, it’s easy to say that both bands deserve your support. There’s no word on whether or not Divine Eve or Vex will play San Antonio soon, but if it happens, attending should be seen as mandatory.
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