Lemur Voice - Divided

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Telstar-Skylabel
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 74:12:00

It's LEE-Mur Voice! And, they were one of the best progressive metal bands around. So, why review this CD, especially now? If you were more inquisitive, you may be wondering why I would review such a rare CD. Well, as of this moment, there are 49 copies left of Divided at The Laser's Edge; no, make that 48 and counting. [And as of Dec 2004... zip - PW. In a way, this is Divided's comeback [though I think he meant Lemur Voice's... depending how you interpret it - PW ed.], and a comeback always deserves a little something. Plus, many of you may have passed up on this disc before, which means that this review may be more than just a few words of good advice.

Musicianship: impeccable. Vocals: accented, but I love them. Well, that's the story of Lemur Voice on both their albums. To get this out of the way, I do like Insights better than Divided, but it will be exceedingly difficult for many CDs to top the former in my book. No matter what, Divided is a very good to great progressive metal album. There are some aspects of the album that are not to my favour, but some of the songs are just amazing beyond expression. So much so, that getting in depth on any negatives would be a waste of our time. I'll just say that the sound, distortion wise, could have been a bit better and that, overall, this disc may waver at times; which means that, in a way, it is a moody album. However, with a track like "Solilocide" to start off, I'm always in the mood!

This is really a band I miss. I mean, come on, who can cover "Beat It" and pull it off successfully? Forget just successfully, think exceptionally. Lemur Voice not only gets an A on the Jackson scale, but these musicians break out everything, style wise. On Divided, as well as with Insights, I do not see Lemur Voice as a Dream Theater clone; though, I know many critics have viewed them that way. With the atmospheric and jazz textures that appear in Divided, this band comes off very original. Actually, I can even hear passages of Cynic, take "Childhood Facade" for example, on this album; it contains a well defined balance, if such a balance exists. Combining a certain catchiness, great lyrics, technicality, and flair, Divided is a potential constant "go to" CD, but that is, of course, up to you. I could go through my favourite songs, but then this rare album may be sold out, only to become a "needle in the haystack" once again. I, myself, was wavering between a 10 or 11 for a rating, but what the hell (can I say that?), why not take the higher route.

No, I'm not sure why the 11 Shawn was giving it is listed as a 9, but that's what was there - (that darn) PW ed. (again)]

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Solilocide / Universal Roots / All Of Me / Childhood Facade / Parvedian Trust / When The Cradle Cries / Lethe's Bowl / New Yanini / Divided / Beat It / Sticks In Space

Musicians:
Gregoor Van Der Loo - voices
Marcel Coenen - guitars
Barend Tromp - bass, Chapman Stick
Nathan Van De Wouw - drums
Franck Faber - keyboard

Discography:
Insights (1996)
Divided (1999)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin NL

Added: December 30th 2004
Reviewer: Shawn "Zero Hour" Lakhani
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2109
Language: english