Soleus - ​Divided by Zero

Soleus

​Divided by Zero
self-released; 2015

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

The five-piece band Soleus comprised of Chuck, David, Shannon, Jim and Shane sound like an eclectic blend of ‘90s rock. As I was listening to their release Divided By Zero I was reminded of prominent ‘90s bands such as Tool, Alice N’ Chains and even Metallica. 

Divided By Zero is unequivocally a heavy album but it also isn’t straight metal. Styles such as alternative, grunge and hard rock fit in describing the sound of Soleus.

The band kicks things off with the hard-hitting “Mask.” Filtered vocals and soaring guitars are what this song is all about. It’s a visceral song that I could imagine is an experience to hear live. The lyrics fall in line with the general mood of the song. He sings “Keep, yes keep your pain / Hidden lies and false securities / Scarred from a mask worn too long / A face no longer recognized.”

The next song “Poison” is the one that made me think of Alice N’ Chains. In fact the singer sounds a lot like Layne Staley on this song. The song gets intense towards the end and almost feels sloppy at times but it works. 

“Walk Alone” is another heavy song with blaring guitar leads and has a Faith No More vibe. The song is solid but does contain some timing transitions that feel awkward. Take for the instance the change around the two-minute mark. 

As the album progresses the band continues to rock pretty hard without any deviations. “Going Home” and “Worthwhile’ were highlights. 

Soleus is a band that feels like they came out of the ‘90s. Their sound doesn't sound contemporary but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed the tunes and delivery however I think the band could have been a little more in the pocket at times. Overall there is some solid material on this album. 

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