Divine Lust – The Bitterest Flavours

Fans of Solitude Aeturnus, Memory Garden and the more dirgey-like moments of Nevermore will definitely find Divine Lust’s second full-length work “The Bitterest Flavours” to be a pleasant and rewarding listening.
The Portuguese group, who have been going since 1998, infuse their mountain-sized riffs with an epic and melancholic quality clearly redolent of classic Doom-Metal in the vein of Solitude Aeturnus and Memory Garden, and then add a clean, poignant and powerful vocal performance that comes across as a combination of Rob Lowe’s deep wails with Warrel Dane’s more poignant tones. Considering I’m a huge fan of all the aforementioned bands, I’d say it sounds great.
However, their Doom-oriented journey doesn’t feed solely from such classic set of influences since Divine Lust also reveal a tendency to incorporate elements of more contemporary Doom-Metal ala My Dying Bride and Draconian into their compositions, like keyboard-drenched melodies, violin sections and acoustic interludes. Each song on “The Bitterest Flavours” have their own flavour and particular traits, yet most of them stroll at a slumber, funeral pace with slow, traditional-flavoured riffs merged with dominant keyboard lines, occasionally tempered with choirs, female vocals, string sections that on the overall helps to radiate a mournful and desolate atmosphere. “Duskful of Bliss, Morningful of Misery” throughout its 12 minutes duration perfectly summarises all the characteristics of their consistent and compelling sonority.
Their blend of old and new sounds fairly accomplished, clearly Divine Lust have mustered enough experience and know-how throughout their ten-year existence, to grant “The Bitterest Flavours” with enough savoury and emotion to make the listeners sit up and pay attention. (7/10)

Band info: www.myspace.com/divinelustband
Label info: www.deadsunrecords.com