antiMusic.com: Direct Divide

Direct Divide - Bridges

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With the current market music glut created by the internet, it's getting more and more difficult for original musicians to stand out in the crowd. Direct Divide has found one good way to get itself noticed however, as its singularly named vocalist, Razz, also uniquely plays violin on the group's new album Bridges.

The combination of Razz's violin playing, which sometimes makes the group sound a little like the string-enhanced Yeallowcard, and her urgent singing that is oftentimes similar to Paramore's Hayley Williams, gives Direct Divide a slight leg up on the competition.

The song "Down" moves to a nice, new wave-esque guitar groove, and has a pretty section where the music quiets down dramatically, much like the Foo Fighters can do, before ramping up again. In another stylistic diversion, "Meteors" finds Razz sparring with a male vocalist. "Meteors" also slows down the energy significantly, showing Direct Divide in a quieter mode. Lastly, "Break the Cycle" is extremely dramatic, with a sweeping string and keyboard opening segment. It is Direct Divide at its most progressive.

Life can get a little dull when there are so many (too many) predictable guitar/bass/drum bands making simplistic hard rock. But Bridges is like an ever so slightly exotic meal, in an otherwise generic fast food world.