Diva Destruction- Run Cold

ARTIST: Diva Destruction

ALBUM: Run Cold

LABEL: Metropolis Records

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 8-4-07

Diva Destruction was already moving toward becoming a solo act, but the project's third full-length makes it official: founder Debra Fogarty made this entire album herself, from songwriting to production and engineering. The end result is more electronic than past releases, but fans of older Diva Destruction needn't fret. Though the lack of guest musicians means there's less guitar, this is still more or less a rock album, with or without a standard rock set-up. Fogarty doesn't rely on studio trickery or overly complex programming; instead, she sells her songs on the strength of their melodic hooks, biting vocals, and club-friendly dance beats. Fogarty's classical background definitely comes into play, but it's subtle; instead of drenching everything in string samples, she uses deceptively simple harmonies of synthesized violin and cello to create a darkly orchestral vibe on tracks like "Kiss the Stars." There's also plenty of aggression in evidence; the entire album seems directed at fickle music scene types, and the hard-hitting EBM synths of "The 4th Knife" and the slashing power chords of "Rewriting History" serve the defiant edge in Fogarty's voice particularly well. This is no moping goth album; dark though it may be, it's a paean to self-confidence. Crank this one up for a reminder that just because you wear a lot of lace doesn't mean you have to be flimsy on the inside.

Visit www.divadestruction.com for the latest news from Debra Fogarty.