Pathos "Perdition Splits the Skies" CD
[Intolerant Messiah]
Yeah, this thing begins with a relatively brief folk-ish metal introduction with some violins, melodic lead lines, acoustic guitars, snazzy drumming, etc. that's not so hot, but don't let that confuse you, because after that it's straight into some fucked up technical death/grind with a few black metal influences seeping through as well. There's plenty of speed mixed in with the tempo changes and the riffing ranges from classic death metal blasts to more modern, grinding runs that have that complex sort of flare to 'em. One thing working in their favor is a really unique vocal sound. They're just throaty midrange growls, but something about the delivery really stands on its own. And I love the bass playing! The bassist is fucking awesome and the basslines really stand out, I only wish the bass was mixed louder as the recording sorely lacks low-end. As for the rest of the recording, the biggest problem is that the vocals are entirely too loud, and along with the drums tend to cut through the mix because the guitars are hard panned and can often get lost in the shuffle. As soon as the vocals stop and an instrumental passage takes over things sound a million times better. So first and foremost, those vocals have got to be turned down. Other than that (and upping the bass volume), I'd probably just work on making the guitar tone a bit fuller and warmer, as right now it has a bite to it that leaves too much room in the mix and causes the guitar playing to drop back when the vocals kick in. As for their actual writing, it's honestly a bit disjointed for me to fully appreciate. I think that were the mix a bit more even I might be able to get into it more because I wouldn't feel like I was listening to such a jumble, but there's definitely a certain degree of "cut and paste" writing going on here, because there are tons of changes that sort of snap out of nowhere without transitioning, and when they focus on speed it can get especially confusing. It's just not very memorable. Their overall approach is pretty distinct, but none of the songs really stand out so much from one another. There is a quick little jazzy sounding break in the middle of "Eroding the Spires" with some operatic female vocals in the background that actually sounds really fucking cool and is a redeeming quality, and "Ocean's Length" is one of the only truly distinct compositions: Using a little bit of subtle sitar and having a rhythmic sort of modern black metal feel, there's also some fucking incredible midpaced riffing with discordant lead lines and excellent drum fills. Such fluid arrangements ironically make what happens to be the longest track (more than six minutes) the most powerful. "Tools of Implement" is similarly structured with smooth tempo changes and lots of powerful riffing of the slower variety (with no absence of speed), offering a glimpse at what this band is capable of when they near their full capabilities. Intolerant Messiah has an awesome knack for layouts, as everything I've seen from 'em so far looks killer. This time out there's a ton of layered imagery that, while busy, looks incredible and creates an apocalyptic sort of vibe on some level. The band logo is interesting and completely symmetrical (while illegible), all of the text is arranged in a very tight and compact format... it just looks slick as hell. Lyrically things are pretty interesting, generally getting pretty involved and conveying cryptic messages: "Our civilization has become a plague upon all life, We rape our planet and we purchase bastard child, Self destructing has become what we now embrace, Manifest destiny for the entire human race, All will be lost, All will relinquish to our expanding wake, All life be gone from what we forsake..." This band is clearly proficient and has a lot to offer, they just need to tighten their skills a little bit more to really start tearing people's heads off. Not bad, but they could certainly be even better. (6/10)
Running time - 37:37, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: Ocean's Length, Lying Absolution, Tools of Implement]
Intolerant Messiah - http://www.intolerantmessiah.com

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