CD REVIEW: EVIL OR DIVINE by Sideburn

EVIL OR DIVINE by Sideburn
(Metalville Records)

Swedish hard rockers Sideburn return with highly anticipated new release, 'Evil Or Divine'. The album was mixed/produced by Jonas Edler with Morgan Zocek and SIDEBURN at B.A.S. Studio and mastered by Mats "Limpan" Lindfors (Meshuggah, Katatonia, Opeth) at Cutting Room studios in Stockholm. This is the band's fifth studio release and in my opinion their best to date. Sideburn are comprised of,  Dimitri Keiski (vocals, guitar), Morgan Zocek (guitar), Martin Karlsson (bass, organ), and Fredrik Haake (drums). The first thing that strikes me about this album is the fantastic groove throughout that never at any point becomes tiresome. Too many times bands simply re-hash repetitive riffing, but on this monster of an album, Morgan Zocek' s guitar playing is spot on. Sumptuous time changes and riff chopping/changing that simply floors you as a listener, making you guess the next direction they will take makes this a display of refined and ultimately skilful playing. There are plenty of straight up hard rock songs, such as the riff driven, "Masters And Slaves", the supercharged "Sea Of Sin" and "Evil Ways". "When Darkness Calls", is definitely my personal favorite song on the album; Dimitri Keiski' s vocals give it a dirty, gritty feeling, complemented perfectly by Zocek' s powerful guitar riffs, a definite killer track. Mention should also go to the fine closer "Presence",  possibly the darkest song on the album with a fine `bleak' quality that ends a superb album with a fine sophisticated edge. There is simply not one bad song on this album. It is muscular and delightfully hard in all the right spots. If you are a fan of the old metal day giants such as Black Sabbath or Rainbow, then you should seriously get your hands on this album. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society