REVIEW: Divide and Dissolve - Insatiable

Divide and Dissolve, the project of the Black and Cherokee composer and multi-instrumentalist Takiaya Reed, is a sensation on the doom metal scene, combining the genre with Reed’s visions of the world and her experiences. Her new album Insatiable is a mixture of different instruments, all harmonising in a beautiful expression of her visions.

The album, consisting dominantly of instrumental tracks, plays with the narrative of the paths of either destruction or compassion which each individual is destined to take, representing Reed’s emotional journey connected to the topic. The opening track, called ‘Hegemonic’, can be interpreted as an introduction to the concept of the release. Heavily using vocals, accompanied by hauntingly sounding guitar, the track instantly touches on the heavy topics the whole release is about.

The second track on the album, ‘Monolithic’, kicks off a series of doomy tracks and sounds, representing different aspects of love and oppression. Beginning with a calming, almost soothing saxophone, the song gives us the feeling of security and peace, only to transition right into a chaotic melody of prominently played guitar riffs and heavily used drums, representing the oppressive and violent side of the world .

Using the saxophone and other instruments to their advantage, the band have made the tracks ‘Loneliness’ and ‘Provenance’ distinctive enough to give the listeners a new perspective of the music. With ‘Loneliness’ featuring an impressive organ, accompanied by other instruments, the mimicking of the titular emotion is on point. The track creates a dual feeling of hopelessness and lonesomeness, whilst cultivating a mood that suggests trying to find a way out from the misery. Surprisingly enough, the track does not feature any overt doom metal elements, making it a piece to reflect on the previous songs and the ones about to come.

‘Provenance’, on the other hand, is a longer track that, whilst featuring similar traits to ‘Loneliness’, feels completely different. Starting off with calm flute, it transitions into a chaotic tone of guitars and drums, yet again distinctive for the album. The track touches on the topics of indigenous people and people of colour, highlighting the importance of honouring our ancestors while being respectful to each other. Together with the previously mentioned track, these two stand out within the chaos and violence of the other songs, being easily memorable.

Another track that stands out from the rest is ‘Grief’. Using slower melodies and vocals, the track, although very short, evokes the titular sense of grief and grieving, making the listener reminisce about their own life and experiences. It feels like a closing of a chapter, leading us to the last song ‘Death Cult’, that consists of hauntingly sounding saxophones, fitting perfectly as the last element of the whole album.

Insatiable is a work of art, expressing the urgence of peace and harmony. As much as the tracks can sometimes feel repetitive, there are moments when Reed comes with hope-like sounds, making the listener feel more comfortable and secure. Not only that, but her experimentation helps keep the repetition at bay. The album is a great example of doom metal and the different ways of experimenting within the genre, making it a fascinating album to listen to.

Score: 7/10

Insatiable was released on April 18th 2025.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: Divide and Dissolve