SORROW AND PROMISE

DIVINE-IN-SIGHT are a trio who play some amazing music. The lead guitarist really brings to mind Alex Lifeson while the bass player is like a cross between Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.The drumming is outstanding as well, great percussion.The only weak link are the vocals, although they actually are pretty good, but unfortunately they have been mixed too low in the sound. Speaking of sound I wish the sound quality was better, it's definitely not the best. These guys really bring to mind the "Hemispheres" / "Permanent Waves" period of RUSH at times. And not too unlike PINK FLOYD's "The Wall" as there are an abundance of samples in this music.

"Black River" opens with the sound of water as keys come in followed by some fat bass lines and some beautiful guitar melodies.The guitar sounds so good.The vocals come in followed by the water flowing again.This is a melancholic passage. Things pick up a notch with more great bass and there is some heaviness 8 minutes in. "By Leaps & Bounds" is an instrumental and my favourite song on this record. This song opens with a scripture and also closes with one. Again the bass is prominant. The guitar solo starts out lazy evolving into an intense Lifeson like performance. Tempos continue to change and the ride is fantastic.The band calls the next 9 songs "Sorrow & Promise" a Christian Progressive Rock Opera. It's based on a vision that one of the members of the band had. Oh, did I mention these guys are Christians ? "In A Box" is a melancholic song that crawls slowly along blending into "Sorrow & Promise Overture" which features some guitar solos that remind me of SAVATAGE. "March Of The Damned" is an ominous passage as you might imagine.

"Waltz of The Plastic Dolls" has a waltz styled rhythm,and there is some good guitar work during the instrumental interlude. Again I was reminded of SAVATAGE. "Viper's Brood" opens with snakes hissing and this song is very RUSH sounding. "Sleep" is a mellow song with tasteful guitar melodies that are quite energetic as the bass plays on. "Into The Abyss" is one song where the vocals stand out. Lots of mood and tempo changes on this one. "Soul Of Mine" has some ripping solos towards the end. Nice. I would have been happy if this is where it ended, but it doesn't. "Make Me More Like You" as the lyrics tell us, is where our subject wakes up from his sleep and he reflects on the vision he has had and prays to God. This song is the most Christian of all the songs and is necessary in the telling of this story. I just would have liked it to end on the previous song because of the way it ended instrumentally.

This is highly recommended music that i'm sure will pleasantly surprise you. Greg Walker says that DIVINE-IN-SIGHT are "About the best Christian prog band I have heard." Easily 4 stars if it had sounded better. 3.5 stars it is.