Review by Jack on December 15, 2002.

I swear Divine Souls are the In Flames groupies that loved the band so much that they just had to form their own band and start pumping out lovable In Flames limericks to appease their worshipped idols. Perhaps I am being a bit presumptuous with these guys, but if you heard the melodic death output here you would swear this stuff was taken from the “Clayman” recording sessions.

Galloping guitar melodies, soaring choruses and catchy compositions form the basis for “The Bitter Selfcaged Man,” and whilst being obvious In Flames fans, shoot me if it doesn’t actually work. I mean, this is almost unabashed plagiarism of a long refined style of melodic death metal, but it works out for them in every single aspect. Divine Souls ooze with quality production, they are all very competent musicians, and above all can write the same style catchy numbers that In Flames has been famous for writing for roughly a decade.

I should be bashing and laying waste to these guys for their lack of originality, but I can’t help but tap my feet and nod my head in sync with these pumping tunes. Perhaps it was my partial disenchantment with “Reroute To Remain” or I’m still in shock from what I am hearing on this album, but whatever it is, “The Bitter Selfcaged Man” is going to be the beneficiary of a good score.

Bottom Line: Sick of “Reroute To Remain”? Well here is “Clayman” pt. II to keep you entertained! Seriously, though, Divine Souls present such a well-rounded take on the In Flames sound that it makes it worthwhile to pick up for those In Flames enthusiasts or those melodic death metal heads.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 3.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.7 out of 10