Pale Divine
Thunder Perfect Mind (CD) 2002 Game Two Records
And the modern-day riffing doom classics just keep coming. Yes, those of us into that scene may be mourning the passing of riffing doomsters Goatsnake, but as the philosophy goes, when the Southern Lord closes one door, he opens another. Which brings us to Pale Divine. Pale Divine has been around for a number of years, but their recorded output has been limited to a tape and a couple of appearances on compilations, most notably on Underdogma's 'Judge Not' comp. They've been casting around for someone to put out their first CD, and thankfully Game Two Records had the wisdom to step up and unleash this bad boy. When you plonk down your hard-earned cash for 'Thunder Perfect Mind,' you're in for more than your money's worth of old-school riffing, anthemic doom, with each song seeming more essential than the last. Guitar-meister and vocalist Greg Diener constructs massive, memorable riffs only to blow them into space with fantastic solo after solo after solo, fingers dancing over the frets like ants on amphetamines. Drummer Darin McClosky and bassist Jim Carl jam on the doom like they've just spotted the final incoming warheads and have only a minute left to play. This is cosmic doom like no other. Touchstones include early 70s bands like May Blitz, Budgie, and the ubiquitous Sabbath; the NWOBHM, and more recent old-schoolers like Paul Chain, Cathedral, Internal Void, and the eternal and endlessly influential Pentagram. And speaking of Pentagram, Bobby Liebling guests on 'Dark Knight,' which he co-wrote with Pale Divine, while the band covers Pentagram's '20 Buck Spin,' with Bobby and Greg alternating vocals. If you dig any of the above bands, you owe it to yourself to check out Pale Divine, which will certainly shape up as one of this year's best.	1. Amplified 2. Magic Potion 3. Judas Wheel 4. Pale Divine 5. Gods, Monsters & Men 6. Dream Flower 7. Star Child 8. Devil's Mark 9. 20 Buck Spin 10. Dark Knight Approx. 58 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin Mchugh
Thunder Perfect Mind (Re-issue) (CD) 2005 (2001) psycheDOOMelic
The release of Pale Divine's 'Thunder Perfect Mind' was one of the community's musical milestones back in '01. In a year of great albums, 'TPF' was first among equals, combining the influence of early 70s underground blues metal with old-school, Maryland-style doom to create something fresh and amazing, something that tapped into the spiritual, manifesting the beliefs of the group in musical form. Unbelievably, the album was out of print until psycheDOOMelic stepped up and reissued it. Good for them, but more importantly good for you, if you somehow missed out on picking this one up the first go 'round. For a special treat, psycheDOOMelic has added a couple of live cuts, 'Amplified' (my all-time PD fave) and 'Pale Divine' (no slouch) in case you needed any incentive. Although my CD collection is crying out for more space, I'll be happy to add in this second copy, just because it's one of the finest albums the stoner/doom community has ever produced and I want it in all it's iterations. In case you desire a more rounded picture, here's my review from a few years ago: [See above]	1. Amplified 2. Magic Potion 3. Judas Wheel 4. Pale Divine 5. Gods, Monsters & Men 6. Dream Flower 7. Star Child 8. Devil's Mark 9. 20 Buck Spin 10. Dark Knight 11. Amplified (live) 12. Pale Divine (live) Approx. 74 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin Mchugh
Eternity Revealed (CD) 2004 Martyr
Pale Divine's previous long player, 'Thunder Perfect Mind,' was at the top of my list of best albums of 2002. That’s a big call in the stoner/doom world, which produces so much of the planet's best music. If time has taught me anything since then, its that I occasionally make the right call. Heh. 'Thunder' has withstood the test of time without even a hint of effort. It stands as one of the best debut albums of all time, an inspirational, doomed-out collection of metal that traces its lineage back decades to Sabbath through Pentagram on the one hand and to classic early ‘70s hard rock on the other. I simply could not say enough good things about the album then, and I can't now. Pale Divine is one of that elusive handful of groups with what Chris Barnes calls "The X-Factor," that elusive quality that includes songwriting genius and instrumental ability, combining to form a chemistry that creates magic. Like pornography, you can't describe it but you know it when you hear it. I include groups like Solace, The Rubes, St. Vitus, and Colour Haze (among others) in this select group. If this makes sense to you, then you'd better take your cold miser's hand off your wallet and spring for both 'Thunder Perfect Mind' and 'Eternity Revealed,' because these albums bear riches far beyond the measly $10 or $15.00 you'll pay for them. One of the most interesting things about 'Eternity' is that the group has elected to go back and rework their hard-to-find tape from the 90s, 'Crimson Tears.' The songs are now quite different: heavier, richer, and more rewarding than the somewhat thin-sounding tuneage from that rare cassette. What's even more interesting is the picture this paints of the group. They view their back catalogue as available for reinterpretation, yet their style has really not changed that much. They're still throwing down the amazing doom-tinged metal they were doing when they formed almost 10 years ago. The new songs are in the same vein as 'Thunder,' but perhaps a shade darker and more metallic than before. In other words, the group sharpens and refines their sound but doesn't change radically. Why should they? They've got one of the best presentations in music, with the chops to back it up. And don't forget their excellent cover of Candlemass' doom anthem 'Solitude.' Guitarist and singer Greg Diener proves that he can stand with doom greats such as Wino, Victor Griffin, Dale Flood and Kelly Carmichael, whipping out complex riffs and the dancing solos that are his trademark. Drummer and group spokesman Darin McCloskey is the perfect counterpoint on drums, providing complex fills but never intruding, while long-time bassist Jim Corl gives weight and authority to the music, offering up the rhythmic drive that helps make the band a unique entity. And don't forget the stunning artwork by the group's "silent" fourth member, Brian Tutlo. I'd like to see it on a full-length vinyl release, or at the very least on a Tee. None of this would matter, of course, if Pale Divine couldn't come up with the goods. But of course they can, and they do. There's no point in going into further detail, really, because there's something more going on in this music than mere chops and songwriting. If you're up for it, this music can connect you with another reality, a higher reality, a psychedelically inspired world that plugs you into the very essence of existence. How do they do it? By projecting themselves into the music until they become one with it, allowing it to directly express their thoughts. You may think I'm blowing smoke here, but this is straight up! The lyrics are idealistic and angry, condemning all those who've betrayed us while constructing our world out of deception and lies for their own benefit. In that sense PD is like The Hidden Hand, calling it like they see it. Other useful touchstones are Pentagram, Trouble, Obsessed, Uriah Heep, Budgie, Internal Void, Witchfinder General, and Iron Maiden. The point is, this is spiritual music, the word made flesh. But if you're not into that, it works as doom-tinged metal as well. OK, I've gone on long enough (though I could easily go on longer). Once again Pale Divine has made an album that will surely qualify as one of the year's best, along with the new Colour Haze, Hidden Hand, Internal Void, and the Starchild/Rebreather split. There are others. In the meantime, the onus is on you to buy, beg, borrow or steal - whatever it takes - to get this album. These guys have been under-heard long enough.	1. Morphia 2. Crimson Tears 3. Sins of the Fallen 4. martyrdom 5. Blind Faith 6. Serpent's Path 7. Ever After 8. Drowned Out 9. Lord of Sorrow 10. Solitude Approx. 52 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin Mchugh