ALBUM REVIEW: Desolate Pathway - “Of Gods and Heroes”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/10/2016

Label: Independent

Make no mistake, Desolate Pathway have delivered an epic doom record of epic proportions: light and shade, massive riffs, great performances, a downcast atmosphere... it's all here

“Of Gods and Heroes” CD//DD track listing:

1). Intro

2). The Old Ferryman

3). The Perilous Sea

4). Medusa’s Lair

5). Into the Realms of Poseidon

6). Enchanted Voices

7). Gods  of the Deep

8). The Winged Divinity

9). Trojan War

The Review:

Desolate Pathwayfollow up their rather excellent debut with this, their sophomore release. Musically, this is doom. Trad doom, to be precise. It's low and slow, but with clean and clear vocals which weave stories of ancient myths in amongst the riffery.

The themes here take in exactly what the title denotes; ancient myths and legends- tales of courage, magic and honour. “Enchanted” Voices runs the gamut of doom riffage with slow, mid paced and swinging variants all getting an airing. You can play spot the reference/mythology as the album progresses. Medusa gets a look in, as does Poseidon (as you will know from the advance single), the Iliad, or more specifically the battles and characters involved, gets a look in on “Trojan War” and all of it is delivered with a gravitas worthy of Christopher Lee at his peak.

This is epic stuff: big melodic vocals, big riffs and solos from Vince and nicely dynamic drumming from Mags (making full use of the kit; lots of cymbals, double kick, toms... but never cluttered). It's dark too (the intro to “Medusa's Lair” is classic full on doom before echoing that classic Sabbath riff from their fifth album). The guest bassists put in solid performances when they appear (take a bow Sealey, my compatriot in Iron Void) and over the course of the eight tracks proper the album is a journey through the darker sections of the ancient world.

Make no mistake, Desolate Pathway have delivered an epic doom record of epic proportions: light and shade, massive riffs, great performances, a downcast atmosphere... it's all here (in fact, it's all in the opener “The Old Ferryman”, let alone the rest of the album). Doom fans can buy this one safe in the knowledge that they are in for a treat.

“Of Gods and Heroes” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook