Review by JD on March 30, 2011.

The alternative sides of metal can be confusing to most, even to the ones who have been in the business for a long time. It is a place of new blood for the hoards of thrashers out there to explore and think of different ways to rock hard. In that new pool, is a band hailing from the state of Virginia in the US, eclectic moshers The Division (not to be confused with the old school thrash outfit called Division that is from the same State).

This relatively young band seems to have promising career ahead right now. With fire and a whole lot of primal talent, they explode forth with power and passion... but that is about it. With all of that talent and passion these guys have, the end results is a let-down in the biggest possible way. The band has all of the cards needed: they have fury, power and a sonic assault... but nothing in the way of substance. The album is just a hodgepodge of loose ideas wrapped up in an uninspired Scremo/Nu-Metal framework. The recording is very impressive, and I hear such an arsenal of talent -yet The Division falls short on many facets of their music. They have fire, but the direction is pretty much all over the place. It is sad, but I have heard this sort of music so many times - and they have brought nothing new or anything like a personal signature to it.

Sadly, The Division might slip into the dark waters of obscurity and fade away - a fate that too many bands face. With all of the talent this group has as a collective, it is a shame to see the future. If they go in a slightly different direction, and find that elusive originality I feel they may have -this band might have the tools to go where their music right now, could never go.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:6.5 (they have it, never use it)
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 9
Originality: 5
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.5 out of 10