Desolate Pathway - Visions In Death

Desolate Pathway is an epic doom metal band from London, England who formed in 2014.  Their latest release, “Visions In Death,” is their third full-length album.   The band started out as a four-piece founded by former Pagan Altar guitarist Vinny Konrad.  It seems they are down to two members, making this album the work of duo Maz Magzilla (songwriting) and Vinny Konrad (all instruments, apparently). 

“Visions in Death,” is a wonderful album with many faucets to it.  Much do in part because of the absolutely insane vocals.  I say insane because Vinny covers a wide range of emotions, much like the music does.  The whole album has a hellish, bleak atmosphere yet the vocals sound like a deadly sermon being served from atop a mountain.  

However, with that being said, they do have a certain actorly way to them and can also drip a lot of venom.  Much can be said of the music, but the many kick ass guitar solos can also be quite beautiful.  On top of all that, even though the songs bring doom and gloom, they can be very catchy.

I like the production and mix a lot–the album sounds infinitely deep without being overly compressed.  Its density thrives in an opening space that allows it all to feel very ‘lived in’ and provide a natural flow.   With a run time of just under 40 minutes across 9 songs, it is is just the right length, too.

Check out the opening lead guitar that leads into the vocals yelling, “Something’s tapping at my window!”  If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine then your soul is trapped in the same purgatory the band thrives in.  The drums are so goddamn good too and compliment the music amazingly well–but then again, the synergy between the instruments is just that good anyway.  

These songs aren’t overly long, nor do they feel lacking in any content; this album was written to bring about melancholic Gothic epic doom and that’s exactly what it does.  

The chorus for that opening song, “Creeper,” is an earworm if I’ve ever heard of one.  But it’s more than just that—this song, nor the album as a whole, doesn’t rely on just catchy vocal cadences.  Every instrument helps provide the big hooks that keep the album flowing. 

Check out “The Dark Prince,” if you don’t believe me.  Sure, it opens with a riff darker than black, but the lead guitar is right there to throw in a quick lead, which opens the song up for the soaring vocals to do their thing.  The entire time, the drums hit the right notes at the right time. The melodic leads and dismal rhythm prowess fits so well, the two worlds melding together to become one giant wall of distorted hell that is as epic as it is horrific.  This song also features some clean instrumentation which fills in the gaps nicely. 

Sometimes the album is just straight up scary.  The way the guitars open up the rhythm is like the night devouring the day, with the vocals acting like the moon and finding its place above of all.  Looking down.  Looking into you.  “Dawn of Extinction,” embraces whatever the hell I just said for a somber, Gothic trip that works so well with the epic/traditional doom base to deliver a fresh sound that still feels intimately familiar.  

“Vampires Kiss,” is a nice late track surprise—it’s really intense, maybe even extreme in some ways.  The riffs slam hard against the senses, and the vocals even take a more extreme approach.  Hell, even the leads, however melodic they are, seemed designed to be as daggers stabbing into the blackest of nights.  From the three-minute mark all the way to the end, it feels like the song just might open a portal to something that shouldn’t ever be experienced.  This is a dark, occult-like song that hits all the right marks. 

All in all, Desolate Pathway’s “Visions In Death,” is a chilling album that is able to make doom dangerous and nightmarish while still feeling adventurous and epic through exemplary songwriting that embraces the roots of the genre but not afraid to walk a different path.

Rating:   Excellent