Review: “Divergence” by NightWraith

Taking the path less travelled, Denver Colorado based Progressive Melodic Death Metal collective NightWraith have spent the past eight years writing, recording and performing music that has been created based on a concept approach. Stripping away and preconceived ideas of genre and instead letting their ideas form organically has allowed them to explore unique musical themes in a similar fashion to Devin Townsend or Rivers of Nihil, in an eclectic and intuitive way. Thus far they’ve offered up a pair of albums in 2019’s self titled and 2022’s “Offering” which have been tantalising treats and this time they turn to a myriad of guests to help them bring their vision to life. Mixed and Mastered by Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Warbringer, Fallujah) their third album is titled “Divergence“…

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, NightWraith cross Metal sub-genres with consummate ease. Bathing the listener in cosmic synths opening cut “Fruitless” then scalds with enraged, harsh Death Metal vocals and surprisingly warm and fuzzy Progressive Metal riffs. A track with a pomp and circumstance about it that you can just picture Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth falling in love with, it embraces the listener like a lover who may later on gouge out your eyes. Stripping away the bright synths, “Perpetual Night” flirts with fleeting blast beats and sumptuous leads in the first half, the sombre and sobering mid section then rising majestically into a solo with hints of 80’s Progressive Rock influences during extended instrumentals. It makes you wonder where the band would be without their Death Metal vocalist and guitarist Benjamin Pitts, who makes all the difference as the glue that holds all of the epic grandeur together. His death growls on the heavier “One Flower” are absolutely monstrous as the band bring in wind chimes and lean on Black Metal influences before returning to the earlier sounds in the mid section. The combinations are mesmerising, in equal parts smooth and bluesy and yet occult and harsh in a way which should not coexist in the same environment but do so here thanks to the bands incredible imagination. A John Carpenter inspired synth introduction which very much feels like it has been cut from an 80’s science fiction horror breathes life into “Whispers of Dragonflies” before underpinning the track and bleeding out at various points. Harsh vocals slip into gruff cleans that border on spoken word, the passion of the music as undeniable as the lush almost flamenco orientated solo. Kelly Schilling then provides a delicate flute solo before a rampant enraged, blast beat laden finale that astounds.

An epic instrumental that feels like it should be playing during the end credits of something like Guardians Of The Galaxy, “Invocation” combines the power of the synths with sublime lead riffs that you simply can’t help but admire. The musicianship is as incredible as it is effortless, an air of confidence apparent in everything that NightWraith do. A moment of respite from the vocals means that they hit that much harder as “Fallen Kings and Queens” plays out, this one balancing the  darkness and light of brutality and melody on a knife edge. Gang chanted group vocal moments are a nice touch, perhaps designed for crowd involvement during live shows while the power that Isidro ‘Spy’ Soto is able to generate from behind the kit is immense. Slipping into something faster and more intense, “Nothing Left to Lose” has some ravenously demonic vocal parts as Benjamin Pitts demonstrates has more than just bark and bite to his range. That in turn pushes the rest of the band into action and together their galloping tempos make for a mighty fine blackened time. On a record as eclectic, eccentric and avant-garde as this, a magnum opus of grand magnificence is required for the title track. Floating on an air of ecstasy “Divergence” is that song, ebbing and flowing between the bands contrasting styles in sublime fashion before finishing as if the band were playing live. A cover of “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd is nothing if not a logical choice given the nature of the burnt offerings from NightWraith and they pay homage to their heroes by imposing their own style on the classic. From the throat splitting vocals to the beautiful guitars this is one that fans will savour and genuinely feels part of the album and not simply a bonus track as it is labelled [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Fruitless
2. Perpetual Night (ft. Cole Rudy – Pedal Steel Guitar)
3. One Flower (ft. Andreas Wild – Baritone Saxophone)
4. Whispers of Dragonflies (ft. Kelly Schilling – Concert Flute)
5. Invocation (ft. Joey Truscelli – Guitar Solo)
6. Fallen Kings and Queens (ft. Dan Phelps & Chuck French – Backup Vocals)
7. Nothing Left to Lose
8. Divergence (Jeremy Portz & Xander Galvin-Soto – Auxiliary Percussion)
9. Us and Them (Pink Floyd cover)

“Divergence” by NightWraith is out 13th September 2024 and is available over at bandcamp.