Several months’ back I was able to review Anadivine’s self-titled E.P. and was not in the least bit impressed. They were in the studio getting ready to release their full length “Zoo”  for The Militia Group and were one of the last bands I was on the look out for to hear new music from.  At the time of the review I had hearkened their sound more to a darker Taking Back Sunday meets From Autumn To Ashes.  There were various avenues the band could have chosen to take on this release, but fortunately for us they went in a direction that caught me by surprise.

“Zoo” starts off full throttle with “Adding Insult To Injury” with the shouting vocals, heavy drumming, and distorted guitar parts, and is almost reminiscent of what they were doing on their E.P., but only for about a minute.  The track switches to completely clean strumming still keeping the same tempo, underneath the vocals, before chorus kicks back in with the rest of the band.  “Dangerous Mixed With” is straight ahead rock that pulls no punches with a big hooky chorus and driving drum parts. 

We begin to see the evolvement of Anadivine in “The Timid Gentlemen” a more laid back and mellow effort compared to the previous material, and it works well. “Alcohol And Oxygen” was first heard on their E.P. and really showcases the changes the band has made.  No longer is the annoying screaming in the break down of the song, but they opted to clean it up and sing softly over picking guitar parts, and it gives the song a completely different voice. 

Another dimension added to their sound is the use of dual vocalists like in “Yes Sir, Mr. Machine” and also “Love, Lust, And Fake Integrity” both feature clean, tight vocal harmonies that complement one another well.  “This Accident Worked Too Well” shows flashes of the bands heavier roots in the introduction and is weaved throughout most of the track with tempo changes intact.  “Fountain Imperfection” is a great pop song, driven by drums, acoustic guitar and beautiful vocal harmonies.  The album closes out in dramatic fashion with “Duet From The Dead” a moody mid-tempo rock song in which dynamics play a very important role, before the song ends with just the vocals acapella.

There really isn’t much I can find fault with in “Zoo.”  At times the production is done so well that it almost too clean and surreal, and can make the songs lack some passion.  Anadivine’s progression will catch many off guard but it has produced an album that is something different, in a good way.  This is independent rock done well, very well.