Through The Lens: Divide And Dissolve / Dawn Ray’d / Ragana @ The White Hotel, Salford, 5th September 2023

Yes, I’m still running massively behind sorting through my recent gig photos, and here’s another better late than never post from last months The Beauty Witch and Grey Lantern hosted night featuring Divide And Dissolve, Dawn Ray’d and Ragana from The White Hotel in Salford.

The gig kicked off with Ragana, a band that had only recently entered my radar with them recently signing to The Flenser who’ll be releasing their debut album Desolation’s Flower later this month. Their punishing blackened doom had an interesting twist as it started with Coley on guitar/vocals, and Maria on drums, before switching part way through, and then back again to close things off.

Next up were Dawn Ray’d who’ve made quite a name for themselves over the years, not only for their ferocious take on black metal, but also for their passionate, and I have to say welcomed, anti-fascist stance which is at the forefront of the band’s ethos. It was also the first time I’d witnessed this Liverpool three-piece, and now the last as soon after this gig, they announced they were sadly calling it a day.

And now on to the main event, Divide And Dissolve and all I can say is wow, wow wow! With a wall of amps, Takiaya Reed literally crushed the venue with the duo’s stupidly heavy take on droned out doom, who for this tour featured the torturous drums of Scarlet Shred sitting in for Sylvie Nehill. The set came to a formidable close with a vehement spoken word cameo from a close associate of the band, whose name I unfortunately didn’t catch so if anyone knows, or its actually you reading this, please drop us a line.

Enough waffle and here are the photos of all three bands from the night…

Divide And Dissolve

Dawn Ray’d

Ragana

Photos by: Lee Edwards