“Divergence” is the debut album of GHOSTSEEKER, an Australian Metalcore band from Melbourne that have only released until now one EP in 2022 (“Initium Novum”). So, almost three years later, they feel the time is right to give the audience a little over 35 minutes of Metalcore mixed with Female Fronted Gothic Metal. The latter being the influence of Celeste Bojczuk, who sings in a clear voice that sounds a lot like Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE does. Daniel Breen on the other hand sounds like your run of the mill Metalcore shouter. And I can tell you that the difference between the two does work, and when they switch you can really hear the focus in the music shift from one side to another. Thankfully the two guitarists and the drummer are able to fill in those emotions with just the right amount of aggressive play and infused subtlety where it is suited. As for a bassist, the bio that comes with the music doesn’t name one, so I am assuming that is not an acquirement for GHOSTSEEKER.

If I look at different sites, a lot of them are lifting GHOSTSEEKER into almost dizzy heights and although I thoroughly enjoy what the band does on “Divergence”, I’m not exactly hearing anything new or overly exciting. To me this all sounds very solid, very secure. What GHOSTSEEKER plays usually ranges rather heavy, rather wild to a little bit tame, but still rather heavy. What I am saying is that I do miss most is the diversification from extremely aggressive and almost chaotic noises to the soft and emotional depths of the human psyche. It does occur, like on “Metempsychoses”, but as far as I’m concerned, they could have done that more often. In my eyes if you get that bit right you are rocketing yourself from your average Metalcore band into an exceptional one. A bit like UNPROCESSED is able to do that on their latest album “… And Everything In Between”.

“Divergence” is not a bad album at all, because if you are a real Metalcore afficionado, or even a Female Fronted Gothic Metal enthusiast, you will hear a lot of parts that sound quite good. But that is as far as it goes for me. I feel that the band have played safe just a bit too much, and although they have given it all in aggression, they left out a lot of chaos. And in the softer parts, they dampened in the emotions instead of giving them free reign. They need to let loose just a bit more, and they could easily rise to great heights. Because if one thing is clear, GHOSTSEEKER know how to write rather good songs.