New full-length record from Divergent

While some musical ambitions take a little longer to find their moment, the journey for Iowa-based trio Divergent has been nearly four decades in the making. Formed by lifelong friends James Richards, Mike McAlister and Paul Richards, the band grew out of a teenage partnership between James and Mike, who first played together in the Chautauqua Road Band. That initial project eventually faded as life took them in different directions but the connection survived and years later, the pair reunited, bringing with them the experience of musicians who’d never quite lost their appetite for making music.

Their return first took the form of a classic rock cover band, spending eight years performing across the Midwest yet somewhere along the way, revisiting the songs they loved became less satisfying than creating something of their own. The decision to leave covers behind and concentrate on original material marked the beginning of Divergent, with Paul Richards joining on drums and vocals alongside James on guitar, keyboards and vocals and Mike on bass and vocals. The name reflects a desire to move beyond what they’ve explored before, embracing different musical directions while maintaining the shared chemistry that brought them together.

Rock remains the driving force in their sound but Divergent’s songs also draw on pop, alternative and progressive influences, allowing different styles to interact and overlap. Their democratic approach also gives each member a role in shaping the finished work; individual creativity sits alongside collective decision-making, creating a balance that’s helped the trio develop a sound based in classic rock while retaining a sense of adventure about where it might go next.

The band’s first major statement arrived in 2024 with debut album Runnin’ Free, capturing the musical vision they’d spent years developing. Returning this year with a run of well-received singles, Divergent now take another step forward with their sophomore full-length record titled Rev It Up. The new album draws on an expansive collection of influences, from The Beatles and Queen to Whitesnake, Kansas and Boston, with the spirit of 70s rock running throughout.

Although James writes all the band’s songs, the process of deciding what makes an album is very much a shared responsibility and around 30 demos were considered for Rev It Up, before the group narrowed the selection to eight tracks. James acknowledges that his attachment to the material made choosing difficult and credits Mike and Paul with helping identify the songs that belonged together. Their experience and musical judgement played an important part in shaping the final record, highlighting the collaborative ethos that defines Divergent.

The title track makes an instant statement of intent, opening the record with a song inspired by the band’s shared interest with muscle cars, bringing together speed, horsepower and an appetite for getting the most out of life. Hard-rock guitars, powerful vocals and thunderous drums give it the scale of classic Boston and Kansas, while a modern aesthetic keeps the performance firmly in the present. Its central refrain becomes both a rallying cry and a mantra, distilling the song’s celebration of motion, freedom and never slowing down.

Tracks like “Give Her Love” showcase the band’s riff-driven sound with a grooving rock jam brimming with punching drums and biting guitars capped by commanding vocal performance. The album also reveals a more varied emotional range with “I Really Want To Love You So Bad” trading high-octane energy for piano, bass and cymbal-heavy drums, creating space for a more soulful expression of romantic longing. “Out of Love” views relationships from an entirely different angle, landing as an anti-love song that follows a wealthy narrator caught between desire, excess and escape.

Other highlights comes with songs like “Morning Light” which leans into a laid back rock scene that flows with downtempo rhythms, intricate arrangement and smooth vocals carrying alluring melodies. “You Give Me This Feeling” serves up a bouncy classic rock anthem that’s energising and infectious from start to finish, putting the band’s songwriting flair and performance talent on full display. Closing track “Shine On” pairs bright piano tones with mellow rhythmic drive to deliver an epic pop-tinged finale to the band’s incredible new album.

Rev It Up represents the reward of returning to a dream that once seemed to have slipped away and with the band now able to make the music they genuinely want to hear, they’re finding new purpose in the creative freedom they’ve built together. Their story is about recognising what remained unfinished and with rock and roll still at the centre, the band are seizing the opportunity to keep moving, exploring and making their next chapter count.

Listen to Rev It Up below