Divergent releases “Rev It Up” music video

From the heartlands of Iowa comes Divergent, a band that proves rock and roll music is very much alive and stronger than ever. Formed by lifelong friends James Richards on guitar, keys and vocals, Mike McAlister on bass and vocals and Paul Richards on drums and vocals, this trio first started out almost four decades ago when James and Mike first teamed up as part of the Chautauqua Road Band, a spirited teenage project full of youthful ambition.

Like most high school dreams, it eventually fizzled as life pulled them in different directions but fate has a way of looping back on itself and years later, the pair reconnected to revive that old band as seasoned musicians rediscovering what made them fall in love with music in the first place. A classic rock cover act quickly became something much deeper and after eight years on the road, playing to crowds across the Midwest, nostalgia gave way to a new calling; no more covers, no compromises, just original music and that decision marked the birth of Divergent, a name that captures everything about their ethos.

Today, their songs fold in elements of rock, pop, alternative and progressive styles, fused together with the chemistry only lifelong friends can share. Each performance, each recording session feels like a reclamation of the dream they nearly let slip away and in 2024, they crystallised their shared sonic vision with the release of their debut record Runnin’ Free.

Now they return with their latest release, bringing us their new single titled “Rev It Up,” a driving alternative rock jam packed full of gritty guitar riffs, punching drums and belted vocal leads spinning instantly catchy hooks. Few metaphors fit Divergent better than the open road, and “Rev It Up” is exactly that, a high-octane anthem built for late-night drives and limitless horizons. It’s a song that captures the thrill of momentum, the feeling that life’s too short to hit the brakes.

Powerful vocals, wailing guitars and thunderous drums collide in pure classic rock fashion, echoing the golden age of Boston and Kansas while injecting it with a distinctly modern energy. It’s unapologetically big, serving up a sonic celebration of motion, freedom and the refusal to slow down. Lyrically, it’s as direct as it is infectious and the refrain hits like an engine revving to life, “Rev it up” becomes both a command and a mantra.

The accompanying music video, produced by HIP Video Productions, brings the song to life on screen by capturing three lifelong friends on the road, guitars in tow, chasing the horizon like it’s still 1983. With scenes of the band performing the song on stage cut with shots of them on the open road, it’s an engaging visual spectacle that perfectly matches the energy of the song. As Divergent continue to go from strength to strength on this exciting new chapter, we can’t wait to see what this thrilling band has in store for the rest of 2026 and beyond.

Watch the music video for Rev It Up below

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