PATHOS
By way of Sweden, PATHOS are a 5-piece Power/Thrash outfit who's entry onto the scene seemed to elude even the most diehard fans of this genre of Metal. Certainly their obscure label did them no favors as distribution worldwide was completely insufficient. This is the band's second release and when I first heard a few samples off this album back in 1999 I knew I had to have this album straightaway. My search grew so frustrating I must have given up because it was not until just a couple of months ago that my fellow reviewer, John, was able to commandeer a copy. The wait was worth it. This album surpassed even the expectations I had three years ago.An album this good deserved far better distribution. PATHOS kick into gear with a forceful, pulsating opener on Uni Vs. Universe. "Source Of Madness" gets the adrenaline mixture flowing with its moderately Middle-Eastern-like riff and intricate breaks. Former vocalist Stefan Carlsson does an admirable job of delivering the goods with some solid Power Metal lungfuls. This track truly establishes what the band are all about in terms of efficiency and skilled playing. The album's second track and amongst my favorite, "Weight Of The World" is a classic, throbbing piece packed with swollen energy, driven by tricky riffs and patient double bass. Not that there is as much variety on this song as there is on others, far from it, but the sheer power the song delivers gets me reaching for the volume knob, threatening to break it off entirely!
Great songs are numerous but a few more worth mention are "Innerspace", with its stabbing, surgical riffs, "Mutation", a track that employs grandiose, mechanical, rhythmic architecture and head-spinning midsections, and the crusher, "Rest Your Mind". What I can emphasize more than anything else about this album is its balance, both in collective interplay and in sound production. In many ways I consider this a prototypical album for this genre. Though it rests more on the edges of aggressive Power Metal, the Thrash elements are clearly present. Melody isn't a huge component of PATHOS's music either. Even the acoustical closer, "Negative Spheres" features more dark, somber playing than cheerful melody.
This is the sort of Metal played by giants such as NEVERMORE and at the time of its release, Uni Vs. Universe was certainly in league with the American Power Metal icon's achievements up until that point. Anyone remotely interested in some hefty Power/Thrash ala NEVERMORE, INVOCATOR, ought to get on the ball and locate this album. For the time being, aquatint yourselves with the band.
