Beginning a review with a definition can be cliché, but in the case of Belgium’s Acephalous, it’s too interesting to pass up. From the American Heritage Dictionary, via Dictionary.com, acephalous means: 

1. Biology Headless or lacking a clearly defined head: acephalous worms.
2. Having no leader. 

See? Very interesting. Anyhow, what Acephalous offer on their debut full-length is 45 minutes of blackened, brutal melodeath, which isn’t an everyday combination. Nonetheless, Divine Purity is a good record for those who don’t mind, or even appreciate, the intermingling of subgenres that are typically at odds with one another. Each subgenre is usually represented outright, though not always, and there’s a lot going on in individual songs. Opener “Another Dawn, Another Death” is a perfect example of said commingling: raspy and guttural growls are superimposed over blackened death riffs that are often either melodious or brutal. It’s unfortunate, however, that the overall sound is thin and weak when an album like Divine Purity would stand to benefit from a beefy production. Instead, everything sounds flat. Also of note is the fact that there is no human drummer, as frontman Kenneth Keysers handles the drum sequencing in addition to vocal and guitar duties. Other obvious highlights include the BM-heavy “Pure Damnation” – greatly enhanced by atmospheric keyboards a la Dimmu Borgir’s Enthrone Darkness Triumphant that should’ve been incorporated into a few more tracks – and refreshing instrumental number “Into the Abyss.” 

While Acephalous crafted a solid outing in Divine Purity, I must also admit that several improvements could be made. Aside from the production, it’d be nice to see a real drummer even if it’s a minor gripe. Divine Purity, despite the missteps, is a good debut for a promising upstart.