Long is the path to desolation and enlightement. And lo! How much distance was covered by Swiss metallers PATH OF DESOLATION since their 2014 EP. In but two years, the band has found a strong identity and rare maturity for such a young act. Their first album ‘Where the Grass Withers’ is proof enough of that quick evolution. Sharp riffs, melancholic melodies and powerful vocals, all branded by that Swiss savoir-faire, is the trademark behind these eleven gems of melodic death metal, evoking at times Dark Tranquility, In Flames or Insomnium.
Conceptually, ‘Where the Grass Withers’ takes its listener into a downward journey through the breathtaking landscapes of the Swiss Alps (Isenau) and Northern England (85 Miles), the dream-like meadows of insomnia (To Pastures Grey) and an impressionist picture of depression (Saeclum in Favilla, Colourblind, Exit Nightmares).
PATH OF DESOLATION’s first album was recorded and mixed by Anna Murphy (Cellar Darling, Lethe, ex-Eluveitie) at Soundfarm Studios, Switzerland, providing a powerful yet organic sound, far from triggered cliché productions. Travis Smith’s artwork (Opeth, Katatonia, Devin Townsend, etc.) perfectly embodies the vision behind the lyrics, giving shape to ‘Where the Grass Withers’ main character: Insomnia.
