Posted on: January 19, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

Solidly opening “Zoo” with a track that is as impressive in its radio-friendliness as it is for its efficiency and overall virtuosity. The culmination of an entire band instead of a strong effort from one or two members, “Adding Insult to Industry” has strong bass, vocals, guitars and drums, something that portends well for Anadivine. Starting slowly, “Dangerous Mixed With” is deeply-infectious, using loud and hard-hitting drum lines to match up well with the higher registers reached on the track. Some of the noisiness on this track, a side-effect of the guitar and splashy drums is a minor detraction from what is a strong track. Rekindling his passion, Sean’s emotive bass lines, intricately wrought throughout “The Timid Gentlemen” are one of the few brilliant spots on what is a dull track otherwise. Reclaiming the ground they’ve lost during “The Timid Gentlemen”, “Alcohol and Oxygen” starts off with brilliant guitar, something that flitters on and off as the threadbare vocals take over. When all parts of Anadivine get one on wavelength, it is hard to deny them the proper place in the litany of emo music – furious guitars meet with the driving drum beats on the track to provide a terribly catchy section.

A common thread throughout “Zoo” are the innovative guitar lines that are interspersed throughout the entirety of the disc. While most of the lines found are typical fare, influenced by early nineties alternative music, some guitar lines just are striking in their originality and innovative nature. Continuing a compelling sound even into the second half of the city, Anadivine’s “Yes Sir, Mr. Machine” burns as intensely as much as the following track, “Love, Lust, and Fake Integrity” is crackling with energy barely under the obfuscate surface. The incorporation of hand-claps and other-worldly, synthesizer-esque guitar riffs make the track sparkle with all of the rhinestones of disco.

Anadivine pulls out their Slayer albums for the brutal “Capitol Arrangement”, but still infuse their influences with their own sound, something bands like Avenged Sevenfold just do not have the talent to do on their own disc. “Zoo” is a solid disc, but there are some weak moments, exemplified most convincingly by the odd arrangement of “Fountain Imperfection”. For whatever reason, even with every section of the band continuing the tautness of the previous cuts on the CD, Anadivine can’t coalesce their overall sound enough to avoid the spacey and confusing direction of the track. Still, Anadivine has put forward a strong first foot with this LP, and even with this late minute meltdown, create an album that is above average in every attribute.

Top Tracks: Duet From The Dead, Dangerous Mixed With

Rating: 6.8/10

Anadivine – Zoo / 2004 The Militia Group / 10 Tracks / http://www.anadivine.com / http://www.themilitiagroup.com / Reviewed 24 November 2004

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