DARK DIVINE – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Dark Divine is morphing into a major player in the sphere of the current metalcore arena. Dark Divine is based out of Orlando and is comprised of Anthony Martinez (Vocals), Robby Lynch (Guitar), Cory Scissorhands (Bass) and Triston Blaze (Drums). The band has an EP and a full length under their belt which have received major acclaims from both fans and critics. Halloweentown (2022) started the ball rolling. The EP received extensive airplay and garnished hits like “Halloweentown” and “Circles”. In 2023, Dark Divine released Deadly Fun and their reputation grew by leaps and bounds. “Cold” was an instant fan favorite.
Dark Divine‘s sound is totally nuclear. Lynch’s guitar riffs are monstrous with brutal textures. Martinez’s vocals are sonically melodic while still harboring an edgy intensity. The backbeat of Scissorhands and Blaze creates a forceful tension. A perfect example of the strength of Dark Divine is their new single, “Make Me Disappear”. The single is on Thriller Records and the tune simply cranks. The vocals flare with dynamic energy. The guitar riffs deliver an explosive barrage of carnage. Every note is hammering with a forceful vigor. Dark Divine have upped their game tenfold. Dark Divine is the real deal. Hold on for dear life.
Dark Divine was kind enough to sit with AMP for this in-depth interview.
AMP :Can you give our readers a brief history of the band?
DD: Dark Divine was a culmination of musicians that played locally in the Orlando area. We were all in separate bands, Robby & Triston were in a band together just prior to the formation of Dark Divine. From the first writing sessions & planning sessions it was very apparent we all had one main commonality and that was the love for all things horror, which in turn bled into our image and our sound design right out of the gate.
We took to the internet and gained the attention of Invogue Records, ultimately signing with them for our first EP Halloweentown and then signed with their parent company Thriller records for our first LP Deadly Fun. Since then we’ve been touring & playing shows with bands such as Black Veil Brides, VV, Crown The Empire, Ice Nine Kills & Motionless In White. We are now planning what’s next.
AMP: Metalcore as a vibrant musical genre seems to be on a major upswing. Do you feel it can sustain its verve into the future?
DD: We believe that music comes in waves. As a genre begins to die in popularity, the generation after will develop on the sound and bring the genre back into popularity. This feels like one of those times. We see bands like Poppy and Sleep Token providing mainstream audiences with heavy music and bands like Bad Omens and I Prevail providing modern twists to what we think of as metalcore.
We also think we live in a time in history where there is a need for an aggressive release. Metalcore and heavy music has always had its basis in providing people with an outlet to release negative energy from their minds and feel a sense of community while doing it. So, We definitely think it will sustain longevity.
AMP: For any band, dynamics is an important factor in grabbing an audience’s attention. What is the main ingredient in Dark Divine’s dynamics?
DD: The band dynamic has a strong basis of respect at its core. When on the road for long periods of time, there are moments where understanding and respect act as the glue that hold the tour package together. All the other elements that make a band function only fall into place when there is a reliable and strong foundation of trust and respect between band and crew
AMP: In today’s music scene, there seems to be a sink or swim mentality. Does this type of realism have any effect on the band’s drive?
DD: We think every band has its place in music based on their experience and willingness to adapt. With any highly saturated market, like music, there can be an almost competitive mindset that goes into progressing and developing as an artist. But, truthfully, that’s just a growing pain that needs to be overcome in order to truly enjoy what you’re doing. Any band that’s out there doing what they love and having a good time doing it is a successful band. So, while it may sometimes feel like a sink or swim mentality drives the music industry, there really is a place at every level for bands to make mistakes, grow, and achieve.
AMP: What’s the band’s creative process like?
DD: Typically we will start the writing process with a vibe. What are we trying to achieve in terms of energy with this song? What do we want the audience who hears it to do? Once that is identified we flesh out an instrumental. Once enough layers within the song get made, themes begin to arrive in Anthony’s head, He then fleshes out some lines to drive the direction of the song.
AMP: What kind of themes do you embed in your songs and what kind of feedback do you get from your fans as to the messaging?
DD: We touch a variety of themes in our music that stems from personal experiences as well as spooky things in life that we are passionate about. We have always spooky kids at heart and it was only natural that our love of Halloween and horror would find its way into the imagery of our songs.
AMP: You’ve toured with an impressive roster of amazing artists such as Black Veil Brides and Crown The Empire. Is there a particular show(s) that stand out?
DD: We toured with Black Veil Brides twice and by the end of those tours, we had grown very fond of the band and crew on that tour. The Black Veil guys were very hospitable and welcoming to us, which meant a lot because it was our first bigger tour and we were not sure what to expect. We are very thankful for those opportunities and even more thankful for the friends we made in that camp.
AMP: Is there a current artist you would love to collaborate with?
DD: We have been very fortunate to have worked with many of our influences through shows and writing. At this point we feel like it would be fun to work with people who we have toured with in the past and consider to be friends. We would absolutely love to work with Creeper or Ghostkid again. They both had such unique flavors in terms of sound and had an unmatched visual presence. We look back at that tour very fondly in terms of the bands we played with.
AMP: Your music has an undeniable intensity. What do you guys do to unwind?
DD: When on tour there’s usually not much time to unwind. But when we do have off days we will typically go to a movie theater or split off and have some time with ourselves. When living in a van for months at a time with up to 9 people, small walks or little moments of occasional privacy can be very therapeutic.
AMP: What’s next for Dark Divine?
DD: Starting July 16th, we will be on the Summer of Loud Festival Tour with Parkway Drive, Beartooth, Killswitch Engage, I Prevail, and other amazing bands that we are absolutely honored to share a stage with. On that tour we will also be playing our 2nd year of Inkcarceration. The response last year was an absolute dream and I am excited to see how this year compares. We are also in the process of writing an album which is nearing completion. If we may be so bold to say so, this is the best Dark Divine music we have ever created and we are excited to prove that fact over the course of this album cycle.
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Found Dark Divine while they toured with INK – fell in love with their sound right away! Instant fan! So excited for what they do next!!