-Definitely a Symphony X influence.
-Wow, Karl “Inski” Zulik loves his finger-tapping style guitar leads. Leadoff track, “Evermore,” hits them in the opening seconds.
-Wow, great vocals.
Divine Ascension singer, Jennifer Borg, should be counted among the best of the class of emerging, high-caliber female Metal vocalists. Her powerful voice is a bit too steely to be classified as “Disney Princess,” but she has the range and the ice for a Frozen sequel. I’ve cited Symphony X, but with her at the helm, I’d also draw parallels to Unleash the Archers, Visions of Atlantis, and Seven Kingdoms. Which of course, if you follow your Metal family tree, leads back to classic Helloween and Iron Maiden.
It’s not all about the singer, though. As with any self-respecting Power Prog outfit, each of the musicians display virtuoso skill in their own right. The aforementioned finger-tapping techniques are not the only tricks in Szulik’s guitar repertoire; the solos defy the stereotypical knock against this genre (all highspeed notes, no emotion), with soul, feeling, and nuance. The bass and drum also deliver their impressive components with finesse, skill, and texture.
One of the highlight songs is “Pursuit of Desire,” featuring an outstanding duet with Borg and guest vocalist, Tom S. Englund of Evergrey. Also check out: the Orff-inspired “One Step From Here” and “Bittersweet Divide,” which lead up to the beautifully choral finale track, “Vultures.”
