Worship Metal Album Of The Week – Desolate Pathway – Valley Of The King

Source // f1.bcbits.com

Led by former Pagan Altar guitarist Vince Hempstead, Desolate Pathway have self-released a debut album that defiantly carries the epic Doom Metal torch first lit by the iconic Candlemass and Solitude Aeternus over two decades ago.

Favouring mournful melody over sloth-like dirge, Desolate Pathway tread a path enamoured with the past; both in concept and execution. The ghosts of the genre’s greats loom large as the band regale stories of medieval kingdoms, myths and legends and civil uprising, the kind of Medieval romp that can often sound passé but in Desolate Pathway’s capable hands conjures images of epic bloody battles fought with passion and commitment and an undying sense of purity.

Forged with dense riffs and Simon Stanton’s haunting vocals – a glorious mix of Robert Lowe and Messiah Marcolin – Valley Of The King ripples with the sound of Doom Metal’s fundamental ingredients; drip fed with a second-to-none atmosphere that plants you firmly at the castle walls, sword in hand. Exquisite opener “The Valley Of The King” sets the scene perfectly and as the narrative progresses, each track adds layer after layer of crushing Doom with a subtle and canny knack for variation maintaining interest throughout.

The UK Doom Metal scene is currently unearthing gems like Valley Of The King on a weekly basis, it’s time to take notice. Desolate Pathway are destined for great things, it would appear to be their birthright. 8/10