Album Review: Divided by Design – Stages to Osiris: Rebirth (Self Released)

‘Stages to Osiris: Rebirth’ is the brand-new album from the UK-based instrumental progressive metal unit Divided by Design. Out February 13th, 2026.

A powerful progressive band finding new heavy depths to sink to, while buoying the mind and spirit with layers of clever melody, Divided by Design have hit a brand-new peak here. Revealing another huge step forward with this album, and proving again, that they are a name that shouldn’t be ignored.

There’s no denying that instrumental progressive metal is an acquired taste so when a band comes along that has the potential to capture a mainstream audience’s imagination too, you know you’re on to something special. I do think Divided by Design fit into this category, even as they showcase expansive complexities across the five tracks.

The difference maker? It’s not just how they use melody, it’s how they add extravagance via cinematic detail. It doesn’t make their metal any softer, but it does add a refreshing touch that allows the mind to drift a bit. Happily, not to the point of distraction. Not when we have raucous and rampaging heavy instrumentation across the album. Raucous and rampaging heavy instrumentation that comes in many different forms and proves to extremely addictive.

I think Denial and Reactionary are stunning, but in different ways. Pugnacious rhythmic shifts and brawny technical twists, blended well with dramatic melody and cinematic ambience. The way they flow together is also notable making their (combined) twelve-minute runtime feel so much less.

The halfway point of the album is The Negotiation, giving off some Tool vibes throughout via dark melody, but evolving into its own thing via wilder, faster, and more intense guitar work.

The longest track, and the most elaborate track, is Collapsing Reality. Here Divided by Design dig deeper into sci-fi soundscapes, getting downright epic in places, and balancing a frenzy of heart racing instrumentation with heart stopping melodic switches and clever flips. It’s certainly a highlight, but not to be outdone, The Fatalist also delivers on creativity, even though it is, mostly, one long cinematic outro. Potent none the less.

Divided by Design – Stages to Osiris: Rebirth Track Listing:

1. Denial
2. Reactionary
3. The Negotiation
4. Collapsing Reality
5. The Fatalist

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