As far as music scenes go, Los Angeles is the crème de le crème.  Countless bands (for better or for worse) have attained household-name status starting their careers here: Beck, Maroon 5, Weezer, and The Pussycat Dolls are just the tip of the smogberg. We’re talking BIG.  Overexposed.  Commercialized.  So while this is probably the first time you’ve been aware of their existence, Division Day is ready to melt your face with some self-proclaimed “post-industrial blackened romantigaze.”  Whatever that means.

Beartrap Island, the group’s last album released in ‘06, established the band as a legitimate cultural force.  They were even namedropped on the first episode of the CW’s “90210” and their music has been played in a couple of different MTV shows.  The album was a sprawling exploration of their own musical souls, with the band later concluding that they may have been trying to do too much to please everybody (despite the radio-friendly hits “Hurricane” and “Tigers”).  Following a split with their label Eenie Meenie Records, the four took time off to recharge and refocus.  (Music vid for “Hurricane” below)

The planets have slowly started to align for the foursome.  They’ve landed in the cozy nest of Dangerbird Records alongside current band du jour Silversun Pickups, who are getting ready to tear it up at San Diego’s Street Scene in a couple of weeks.  And now, with the full force of their label behind them, Visitation is dropping in stores and Itunes on August 18.

So how is the album?

Let’s start with song titles that would leave even Colin Meloy scrambling for his pocket dictionary.  Malachite? Planchette? Azalean? Don’t spin this disk expecting any sing-alongs, especially when frontman/songwriter Rohner Segnitz counts black metal among his primary influences.  But do expect a sonic fireball unlike anything you’ve ever heard.

“Surrender” is a skuzzy dance trip reminiscent of Modest Mouse’s “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes,” layering brooding lyrics atop a sinister beat.  “Black Crow” is a smooth, glorious piece that would sound at home on a Broken Social Scene album.  “Azalean” is a spacey ballad punctuated by soft, cascading guitar that I expect in some hipster romantic comedy in the near future, probably in a first kiss kind of scene.  My favorite tracks are “Visitation” (which is like a mature version of Spoon’s slinky cut “I Turn My Camera On”) and “Reservoir” (which is kind of like prowling in the Batmobile at 125mph with the top down).

Bottom line: If Radiohead got together with Pink Floyd and had a few drinks and one thing led to another, they might have given birth to Division Day.  Check out this album—if you dare.

http://www.myspace.com/divisionday

Fan Video for “Surrender”