Getting signed still counts for something even in today’s increasingly divided, niche-driven Internet world; it’s all in the connections, and a little bit of a monetary investment doesn’t hurt either. When we last checked in with Canadian prog rippers Divinity they were busy melting faces with their 2009 self-released album The Singularity, having recently been dropped by Nuclear Blast. But the album was so good that Candlelight Records picked it up for re-release; since then we’ve seen the band getting a lot more press, better tours, and, most recently a real-deal music video.

I could totally do without the corny Naked Ahhnold Terminator-style CGI at the beginning and interspersed throughout this clip, but everything else about the video for “Lay in the Bed You’ve Made” is done just right, which is to say it’s full of clear, precise close-ups of the dudes playing their instruments and not much else. This is exactly what I think a music video should be in 2010, so I’d like to offer director Doug Cook a big Vince Neilstein pat on the tuchus. As for the song, the guys in Divinity themselves take care of making that as kick ass as possible; if you like this track at all I highly recommend checking out the album on Amazon for only $8.91.

-VN

My post about Canadian progressive metallers Divinity a few months back certainly turned some heads. We got emails from several readers thanking us for introducing them to the band — including from some prominent metal musicians — and a number of folks even told me in person they’d found out about Divinity through MS and were really digging their record The Singularity. If you haven’t picked up that record or even listened to Divinity yet, please do — you’re missing out. And though at the time of the post the band had been dropped by Nuclear Blast, I’m happy to report that The Singularity was picked up by Candlelight and will be re-released worldwide! I hope it garners the band the exposure they deserve.

But Divinity guitarist Sacha Laskow is a busy man, and the re-release of The Singularity hasn’t stopped him from writing new music… for another band. Sacha’s solo project is called Enditol, and though it’s not out of line from what you’d expect it’s definitely not just Divinity Part 2. Many of the same elements are in place — stellar guitar work, brutal grooves, non-traditional song structures, tons of time signature changes — but I’d say that Enditol is on the whole a bit darker and a tad more industrial-influenced. Part SikTh, part Meshuggah, part Dream Theater, part NIN, part lots of other stuff. And, from what I can tell, Sacha does everything himself.

If you liked Divinity you’ll definitely like Enditol, and if you never checked out Divinity, well, you still might like Enditol. So give ‘em a shot.

-VN

There’s always those sleeper year-end picks, often early-year or last-minute releases that just fly underneath your radar for whatever reason. For me that 2009 release is Divinity’s The Singularity, which I first highlighted in October with the simple headline “Fucking Wow.” The more I listen to The Singularity, the better it gets… I am incredibly impressed with this band and I can’t fathom why Nuclear Blast dropped them.

The Divinity are an insanely talented band who’ve just released an amazing album that just isn’t getting the attention it deserves. I was listening to the full album yesterday on my iPod… and “fucking wow” is still about all I can come up with. It’s it’s complex, it’s progressive, it’s deep, it’s brutal, it’s shreddy, it’s hooky, it’s artsy… it’s everything you (I) want a metal record to be. Every musician in the band is top-notch, including vocalist Sean Jenkins with whom I’m especially impressed (this from a guy who ordinarily doesn’t focus on vocals). My one gripe with the record is the somewhat flat production; it’s clear and well-mixed to be sure, but it just sounds a little flat and lifeless to me. Minor gripe.

This is a great record highly worthy of your attention right this instant; stream the entire thing on Divinity’s MySpace. Not in a few minutes, not later, not tomorrow… NOW. Just do it.

-VN

[I would once again like to thank MS reader Raymond Lee for turning me onto this band in the first place.]

MS Maniac Raymond Lee sent us a link to the Canadian progressive metal band Divinity with the following email subject line: “fucking, wow.”

For once, you guys got it right. Elaborates Mr. Lee:

They’ve got this weird mixture of SYL and Meshuggah.  Incredible shredding, awesome drum work, great vocals.  Fucking hell they make my balls quiver.  I think they’d be a good band to feature.
-Ray
P.S.  I’m pretty much completely baked right now.
P.S.S.  And I’m hammered.

Baked, hammered or not, Divinity definitely make my balls quiver. According to a press release we received earlier this month but skipped over (oops) the band is now without a record label following their 2008 release Allegory on Nuclear Blast. But the band is soldiering on and self-releasing their new album The Singularity on December 1st through all the usual outlets — iTunes, Amazon, Tunecore etc. How can a band this good remain unsigned? Someone get on that. Listenable Records, Relapse or Prosthetic should be all over these guys.

-VN