Pathfinder - Beyond the Space Beyond the Time
Pathfinder has arrived from Poland and are playing power metal the classic way. Wicked fast riffing, thunderbound drumming, and a sound that takes epic to the highest levels. This is bombastic metal that thrashes through the blood and sets your heart afire. You can hear a glorious mixture of bands within their sound, including Labyrinth ("Return to Heaven Denied"), Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, early Rhapsody (before the "of Fire" tagline). An operatic backing choir adds a fourth dimension to the music, and every instrument and song clicks. Not bad for what is essentially the band's debut. It truly takes you "Beyond the Space, Beyond the Time".

Tracks such as the wonderfully over-the-top "All the Mornings of the World", showcase the beautiful marriage between lightning drumming and melting melodies that make you weak in the knees and fluttery in the ribcage. Little touches make all the difference, such as a few well placed higher pitched screams, and a guitar solo that flies like butterflies that have kissed the flame, on fire.

A magnificent piano opening launches "Pathway to the Moon", and pounds a very Labyrinth-ine sound once it gets going. The opera singer opens the mid section up to make way for an aural assault that shakes the senses, clashing bass with drums, guitars tearing it up and little ethereal brushes, all help to lend the song this gigantic sense of atmosphere. The choirs are pure Blind Guardian, the guitar slinging is Neo-classical majesty (Malmsteen anyone?), and its grandeur flattens you from start to finish in waves of sheer musical ecstacy. Just as you believe it has reached the pinnacle, they push the boundaries of the threshold even more.

"The Demon Awakens" weaves two kinds of strings together, violin and guitar, before beginning the demonic struggle. It also clashes the gutteral demonic vocals with the avenging angel persona of lead singer Simon Kostro, who's powerful voice is strong enough to withstand assaults from both the darkside and the upper register shattering female opera vocals from Agata Lejba. Absolutely colossal and awe-inspiring, those words would describe most of the songs from the album.

"Stardust"
is a vivid track that conjures the massive glory of the galaxies, and brings you spinning back down to Earth in a torrential downpour of instrumentation, choirs, and earthquaking screams. The lighter sections are as delicate as the stars appear themselves, topped by a guitar solo that falls from the heavens. Wistful in tone and then building in intensity while never letting go of its flashy beauty, the six string work casts its own magic spell.

"The Whisper of Ancient Rocks" thunders and powers on through with might, and a few little twists turning here and there to keep you on your toes. "Sons of Immortal Fire" is perhaps a little too magical to describe. Every bombastic embellishment you can imagine has been whisked into this one track. From the rather dark shadings of its opening to the dramatic stopping point, every moment is pure power metal bliss. The title track is perhaps even more expansive, as it explores progressive moments with its time shifts and guitars of shining, blazing glory. Clocking in at over ten minutes, it is the crowning artistic achievement of the disc, as so much is packed into this one song, it is a wonder it doesn't spontaneously combust. There are so many explosive sections of sheer amazement and wonder that you lose track after awhile. Rob Tyrant (yes, yes Roberto Tiranti) being the perfect final crowning touch.

Pathfinder have released a majestic slice of "Symphonic, Hollywood, Film Score, Epic, Speed, Fantasy" Power Metal (give or take as many qualifiers as you please) music that awakens the inspiration within. Just when you thought the fire had died after such triumphs as Blind Guardian's "Nightfall In Middle Earth", Rhapsody's "Legendary Tales", Hammerfall's "Glory to the Brave", Fairyland's "Fall of an Empire", Labyrinth's "Return to Heaven Denied" and Luca Turilli's "King of the Nordic Twilight"... Pathfinder's "Beyond the Space Beyond the Time" proudly sits upon the same pedestal. A fantastic, meticulously sculpted album that has the promise to stay relevant and inspirational for some time to come. If you feel that power metal has grown stale over the past few years, then this is the disc that promises to rekindle the fire.

Written by Alanna
Friday, September 17, 2010
Show all reviews by Alanna

Ratings

Alanna: 8.5/10

Members: 7.5/10 - Average of 2 ratings.



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RevelationZ StaffStuart (Staff)

Rating: 8/10
Normally when you see a review of a bands debut album which places it alongside such class... · Read more ·
Profile pictureSteen (Staff)

Rating: 7/10
No doubt this band has incredible potential. This debut of the year so far exposes a lot o... · Read more ·

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Review by Stuart (Staff) - Saturday, September 18, 2010
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Comments: 116
Normally when you see a review of a bands debut album which places it alongside such classics as Nightfall On Middle Earth you are let down when you hear the final product as how could it possibly match up with those mighty records of times passed?

However you have it spot on with this review Alanna, I lost track of the amount of times this album made me smile/gave me goosebumps/got my heart beating faster/made me wonder where the hell this band cane from and how they could sound so accomplished on their debut.

I can see this being an album I will return to time and time again. Magnificent.


Rating: 8/10

Posted by Stuart (Staff)
Saturday, September 18, 2010

Comment by Steen (Staff) - Saturday, September 18, 2010
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Comments: 518
I heard one song from this band and ordered the album right away. This review does not make the waiting time any easier. Sounds like an amazing album.

Posted by Steen (Staff)
Saturday, September 18, 2010

Comment by Alanna (Staff) - Sunday, September 19, 2010
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Comments: 245
It has been a long, LONG time since an album has tackled me in the grandiose manner that this one has. This one just "has it" where SO MANY do not. Are they trying too hard? I don't think so. If anyone grabs this expecting the next "NIME" are they going to be disappointed? I don't think so either.

Pathfinder have found the sweet spot on their first outing. Personally I can't see how they are going to top this, as the album has everything and the kitchen sink in it. A fantastic album that makes you go "OH MY GOD POWER METAL!!!" and you mean it in the most enthusiastic, giddy, gleeful way possible.

Posted by Alanna (Staff)
Sunday, September 19, 2010

Comment by Little Drummer Boy (Member) - Thursday, September 23, 2010
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Comments: 166
Ratings: 46
Heavy duty endorsements. Looks as though I will have to order one myself.

Posted by Little Drummer Boy
Thursday, September 23, 2010

Review by Steen (Staff) - Wednesday, November 3, 2010
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Comments: 518
No doubt this band has incredible potential. This debut of the year so far exposes a lot of genius elements but also a few flaws. Most notably a too clinical approach at times which results in a lack of emotion. The next album should prove very interesting.

Rating: 7/10

Posted by Steen (Staff)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010










Review by Alanna

Released by
Media Factory/Radtone Japan - 2010

Tracklisting
01. Deep Into The Dakrness Peering...
1 - REM Stage
2 - Coma
3 - Journey
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. To The Island Of Immortal Fire
13. Beyond The Space, Beyond The Time
14. What If...


Style
Symphonic Power Metal

Related links
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Pathfinder - Official Website

Pathfinder - Official MySpace

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Band Profile - (Stuart)



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Ratings
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3 - Bad
4 - Below average
5 - Average
6 - Good
7 - Very good
8 - Outstanding
9 - Genius
10 - Masterpiece
666 - Unrated

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