Sonic Divide – Sonic Divide (2014) 
Although it’s rather raw hard rock sound of AC/DC and Rose Tattoo that you associate immediately with the land Down Under, there’s much
more that Australia holds in store for the rock-oriented music fans.
From the Melbourne-based pomp rock outfit White Widdow to Jac Dalton’s
impressive second album Icarus, it seems there’s enough place for
keyboard-laden hooks and feisty guitar riffs in the land of Oz. Another
act that represents the scene is Sonic Divide, an Adelaide-based
six-piece whose self-titled debut album offers an interesting sonic
compromise between the contemporary radio friendliness and guitar-fueled
rock hooks. “So In Love” begins the album on a high note; it’s a modern-day melodic rock piece with the clearly pronounced rhythm emphasis, “wall of
sound” vocal harmony and crunchy riffs. Especially convincing is the
vocal performance of the lead singer Wayne Holden, his voice somewhat
reminiscent of the soaring, sensual singing manner of Kane Roberts.
“Driven” is the number two, a dramatized piano-based power ballad
building up to a grandiose guitar solo. A mellow pop-rock song “I
Wonder” somewhat pales in comparison with its predecessors, although
there’s a certain quality of neat radio-friendliness to it. The
ballad-esque track “When The Morning Comes” follows, gravitating towards
aesthetics eagerly utilized by many modern-day rock bands, Bon Jovi for
example. “Too Much” is another highlight of the album, a keyboard-laden
melodic rock anthem embroidered with a soaring, dynamic guitar sound
and completed with the perfectly crafted, multi-layered vocals. The
track reveals that even though Sonic Divide is a modern-day band who
looks forward rather than dwells upon the past sound-wise, some of their
influences are deeply rooted in the ‘80s.There’s also much of the ‘80s-infused flavors in slightly Leppard-esque layered vocal parts of the next track “Shattered Fortress”
as well as in the ear-piercing synthesizers “Stepping Stone” is laden
with – albeit the latter’s notable also because of its slightly funk-ish
groove. Music-wise, its follow-up “The Healing” returns on the path
that’s been trod by the band throughout the majority of the album,
gravitating towards pop in its structure and melody but drawing much
from the rock tradition as well with a brilliant guitar solo. “Horizon”
is the final track on the album, delivering distorted guitar sound
against the radio-friendly, melodic pop rock groove.Although Sonic Divide cite “Muse, U2, Simple Minds and Dream Theater” as the artists they’re fond of, their self-titled debut album testifies
these particular inspirations are hardly noticeable in their own sound.
What Sonic Divide delivers instead is a handful of neat, polished
hooks, melodies skillfully balancing between the ‘80s-infused melodic
rock and modern-day pop rock, some impressive guitar playing and great
vocals. And while it’s perhaps their more ‘80s-oriented incarnation that
is more convincing, also the tracks clearly embedded in the modern-day
rock sound are hardly dull. The album shows the Adelaide-based band has
much potential – thus the suggestion we should keep them on our radar is
simply loud and clear.
Artist: Sonic Divide
Title: Sonic Divide
Year: 2014
Genre: Melodic Rock
Origin: Australia
Size/Quality: 102 mb | Mp3, CBR 320 kbps
Facebook Tracklist: 1. So In Love
2. Driven
3. I Wonder
4. When The Morning Comes
5. Too Much
6. Shattered Fortress
7. Stepping Stone
8. The Healing
9. Horizon
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