Polish symphonic power metal act Pathfinder have put together an impressive platter of sounds on their latest CD Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time. It's pretty obvious that the band have listened to their fair share of Rhapsody of Fire, Dragonforce, Helloween, Kamelot, and the like, so while this latest CD won't rank as one of the most original albums of all time, it's well played and chock full of memorable symphonic metal anthems.
Sweeping keyboard orchestrations, chugging riffs, blinding guitar solos, frantic rhythms, and soaring vocals...that's what you are going to get a lot of here, and trust me, that's perfectly fine. Pathfinder are a talented bunch for sure, so let's meet them; Simon Kostro (vocals), Slavomir Belak (keyboards), Arkadiusz E. Ruth (bass), Karol Mania (guitars), Gunsen (guitars), and Kamil Ruth (drums). There is no shortage of ripping guitar solos (yep, the wild Dragonforce kind) and huge, orchestral keyboards, so if you like that sort of thing, you'll find this CD a real feast for the ears. Lyrically, the band have a lot going on, as their tales of mystery, fantasy, and mythology meshes perfectly with their bombastic, progressive/power metal onslaught. Hard to pick favorites among these many tracks, as they all seem to almost blend into each other as if it was one long concept suite, but "Pathway to the Moon", "The Whisper of Ancient Rocks", "The Demon Awakens" (which has a few cool black metal styled vocals which sound great next to Kostro's soaring pipes), "Sons of Immortal Fire", and the epic title track, which is a symphonic speed metal lovers delight, complete with blazing guitar & keyboard solos, plus a wide range of vocal styles.
Complete with stunning, fantasy tinged artwork, Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time is one impressive release, though yes, it's quite over the top and for some will be cheesey beyond belief. Let's face it, you either love this style of metal or you don't, but I'm guessing those who dig it will certainly have much to celebrate after getting a load of this new one from Pathfinder, who are sure to be a band that will be discussed in length after folks get to hear this one.
Track Listing
01. Deep into that Darkness Peering...
02. The Whisper of Ancient Rocks
03. Vita Reducta Through the Portal
04. Pathway to the Moon
05. All the Mornings of the World
06. The Demon Awakens
07. Undiscovered Dreams
08. The Lord of Wolves
09. Sons of Immortal Fire
10. Stardust
11. Dance of Flames
12. The Island of Immortal Fire
13. Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time
14. What if...