Pathology - Legacy of the Ancients

[treghet]

I pre-ordered this album, but it hasn't even shipped yet, even though it was released on the 6th. Apparently there was a problem with the print quality of the t-shirts so they are redoing the design. Being the impatient person I am, I decided to download the album.

RATING: 6/10

Recently Pathology signed with Victory Records, which may be considered odd by many, but it really isn't if you think about it. Pathology is a death metal band (the only one signed by Victory), but they have something in common with many of their new label mates; they write skull crushing breakdowns. The breakdowns may be slightly more intricate than those written by, say, Emmure or Carnifex (also on Victory), but they are breakdowns nonetheless. It was likely a wise idea for Victory to branch out into the world of brutal death metal, because now they can commercialize it and regurgitate it to all the fourteen year old deathcore lovers and make some decent money.

Legacy of the Ancients is Pathology's fourth album since their inception in 2006 and easily their best produced. This is their second album to include vocalist Matti Way, most well known for being in fellow San Diegan brutal death metal act Disgorge. On Legacy of the Ancients Matti does an admirable job in bringing in the low, gurgling, guttural vocals he is known for, however, they do not deviate from that. Simply put, the completely incomprehensible vocal style does get tiresome after a while. It is a momentous challenge to decipher any of the lyrics Matti is spewing, which makes it nearly meaningless to write them. However, the lyrics on Legacy of the Ancients can be surprisingly interesting, in spite of that. Unlike most of the brutal and slam death scene, Pathology has now dissociated itself from the customary lyrics revolving around surgical mishaps and corpse hacking violence.

The guitar work on Legacy of the Ancients is mostly typical for that of a slam metal band. There are semi-technical parts that lead into the mindless chugging found throughout the album. During the sections without imprudent chugging there are some decent riffs, but they do not last long or evolve into anything particularly appealing. Dave Astor does a competent job behind his drum kit to keep the river of chugging flowing at a steady pace, though. There are plenty of blast beats, with an equal amount of double bass sections. Nevertheless, there are no intricate patterns thrown in and for the most part the drums reside in the background, hardly ever emerging from the thick wall of gurgling and guitars.

While Pathology does a good job at delivering heavy music, they do not offer much else. None of the songs off Legacy of the Ancients are exceptional or close to standing out amongst the rest. Essentially, the band found the cruise control button and attempted to write bland, uninspired, death metal in vain of Devourment's most recent works and succeeded remarkably. All in all, the album meets the standards for slam metal, but doesn't bring anything new or innovative to the genre. Instead, it just imitates the all of the albums that have preceded it.

[mankvill]

I heard a song from this album yesterday and it was...okay. Kinda mediocre. I'm glad I didn't get the album when I had the chance.

[elturtleboy]

i found intrest in them wheni found out they had the old Locust drummer. I saw their music video on headbangers ball on monday. They seem really good imo.

[NecroRob]

They seem to be really good at what they do, but unfortunately the genre they chose to play isn't that great. Although I don't mind them now, I have a feeling I'm gonna get tired of these guys real fast since they are on 3 tours I'm going to in the next few months (D666, Nile, Immolation).

How the fuck did they get on a black metal bill anyway?

[treghet]

Originally Posted by NecroRob

How the fuck did they get on a black metal bill anyway?

I was thinking the same thing when I found out they were on it. I would say it has to do with the new label, considering that before they were signed to them they never got on any big tours. I would not be surprised if Pathology turns out to be the next biggest slam/death band because of it all.

[mankvill]

Originally Posted by NecroRob

They seem to be really good at what they do, but unfortunately the genre they chose to play isn't that great.

I quite like brutal death/slam/pornogrind shit, and even I thought it was lacking.

[bt11763]

Originally Posted by mankvill

I quite like brutal death/slam/pornogrind shit, and even I thought it was lacking.

agreed

[NecroRob]

I listened to a few tracks from this last night and it's not bad, but it's just so one dimensional it gets boring really fast. hopefully it's heavy as balls live

[elturtleboy]

Finally got it,and im really into it.

[treghet]

Originally Posted by elturtleboy

Finally got it,and im really into it.

Now you just need to hit up one of the [any metal tour from now on] that they're on.