Division - Control Issues

Release Date: March 5, 2010
Label: 2/5 Gone Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Hunt
2.  Perfect Little Slave
3.  Short Attention Span Society
4.  Soulmate
5.  The Collector
6.  Gemini
7.  Feast
8.  Future In Your Eyes
9..  45 Intent
10.  Bloodletting
11.  Burning Bright

Total playing time:  48:40

June 25, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

I didn’t think it was possible to find a power metal band of the current era that didn’t have to rely on keyboards to overcompensate for basically having little guitar talent or values. I’m surprised on a daily basis with this genre we so love. This is what keeps me going and keeps my love affair with this beautiful music ever alive, these little surprises I’m sometimes afforded.

It’s refreshing to hear a band like Division that creates good power metal that doesn’t need this bombastic, overwhelming wall of epic sound to entrance and entertain. Hailing from Virginia, this outfit makes some overly competent power tunes that are just fun, old-fashioned metal music. Vocalist Nick Kelly reminds me quite a bit of the alt-rock band Live’s singer Ed Kowalczyk, and before you rake me over the coals for that comparison Live was a damn decent band with some unique vocals that were far from original, yet strong and interesting. Kelly doesn’t need to break glasses with high pitches to find a fine niche to carve for himself; his vocals are a fine fit for the music of Division.

For this, the band’s fourth full-length titled Control Issues the stops seem to be all pulled out. Mike Blevins and Dave Evans trading guitar riffs on here make the album really overpowering and add elements of thrash to that classic Savatage-esque sound. I hear quite a bit of Savatage in the band’s music, which is also of interesting note since the band contributed a cover of “Power of the Night” to a Savatage tribute album back in ’96. I truly like the societal issues addressed here, such as “Short Attention Span Society”, a heavy track that serves as a wake-up call to an ever-complacent society bent on nestling lazily in the ease of modern society, while “Soulmate” describes the volatility of broken love. I’d be remiss if I said the lyrics weren’t exactly what I’d deem overly-cerebral, but for what the band stands for and espouses they’re fine. The terrific guitar riffs and great production (wow, a bass is present throughout!) help to make Control Issues a fun experience for listening pleasure.

Other highlights are the tremendous bass sound on “Gemini”, “.45 Intent” and “Bloodletting”, but for the most part the entire album is good for the power metal fan that grows weary of that boring, repetitive thickness that makes all of the current run sound just like the last boring band. Some of the classic sounds of the late 80’s and early 90’s power movement are represented nicely here, and you should inspect them a little closer if you seek some metal which is just plain fun, and talented to boot.

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