SIGN OF THE TIMES

Divine Ruins is a progressive metal band formed in San Antonio - USA in 2000 and released so far a single album in 2004 named Sign of the times. Like many bands from this decade from USA they embrace the progressive metal genre with a lot of Dream Theater influences on instrumental passages and Queensryce on vocal department. The album is well developed where the voice of Ronnie Stixx (who also done some years at british power metal band Shadow Keep and now is member of famous power metal band Vicious Rumors) is on top here, great range and very elaborated voice, just great for this kind of music. The musicianship is ok, nothing over the top, but they manage to create a good album, with some good moments, specially the guitar and keys are very well done. Similar with Dream Theater Awake era, Divine Ruins bring nothing new is this genre, but as I said Sign of time is a pleasent journey in their musical vision. Best pieces are all, not a weak moment here, specially the opening track Sign of the times is excellent where the voice of mr Stixx is the cherry on the cake, also the last part of the song after min 4, the band truly shines in some brilliant instrumental passages very well orchestrated and very inventive. The middle of the album is the strongest, pieces 3.4.5 are a good example of Divine Ruins talent and capability to create something worth investigated. An Iron Maiden cover version - Flight of Icarus taken from Piece of mind is almost one on one with the original, no very much improvisation here, I guess they've done it for pleasure, but fits very well in the context of the album. This single album released so far by this unknow band desearve 3 stars for being pleasent most of the time.