Path Of Debris - The Eyes Of The Basilisk
Totally unknown classic here, got it in a blind buy from Basement Music and I couldn’t be happier that this totally random fucking album landed on my doorstep. The music that Path Of Debris plays is totally unique; it’s like melodic death metal viewed through a prism of ’70s rock/metal like Deep Purple, or death metal infused with power metal, or SOME other descriptor that doesn’t adequately describe just how fucking awesome this music is. Apparently these Germans released one album before this one back in ‘96 that no one knows about, and it really appears that the only reason this one made it across the ocean is because Pavement Music picked it up on a distribution deal. Thank GOD!
The music of Path Of Debris is deceptively simple. Straightforward, melodic three or four chord riffs with even simpler two or three note lead guitar parts over them (with the occasional ’80s style solo), Bolt Thrower derived rolling drum performance, and deep, raspy, growling vocals. But Jesus CHRIST if the band doesn’t manage to make something amazing out of those elements. Path Of Debris’ music appears to center around fantasy themes, and I don’t think I’ve heard a band that more perfectly captures the feel of ’80s style fantasy novels better than this. You know those random paperback fantasy books about elves and distant kingdoms that are awkwardly written yet evocative nonetheless? THIS is the soundtrack to those books. Completely devoid of pretense or any objective other than providing the soundtrack to adventuring and dragon-slaying (in a NON-GAY WAY, I can’t stress that enough, this is a melodic death metal record with an emphasis on being both melodic AND death metal) through riff after amazing heavy metal riff.
This album was released in 1999 but its spirit totally lays in the ’70s and ’80s. There’s a huge influence melodically from traditional heavy and power metal styles, and is totally without a trace of Gothenburg. To say that this is a pure combination of power metal and melodic death metal would not be far from the truth at all, and it isn’t just thematic in nature. Did I mention that this is enormously catchy music? Because it is, perhaps some of the catchiest metal I’ve ever heard. A lot of the riffing reminds me of the intuitively melodic stuff you might hear from Illdisposed; you know, those ‘how the hell has someone not come up with this riff before, it’s so natural and perfect’ ones that make that band’s music so great on albums like ‘There’s Something Rotten In The State Of Denmark’. Everything’s just done so naturally, with such a pure sense of songwriting, that it’s heartbreaking that this album hasn’t received the attention it deserves.
The production is heavy and clean and perfect for the style, the instrumental performances are all great, and even the individual instrumental sounds are sharp yet in possession of an indescribable vintage touch. I would describe this band as Hammerfall in melodic death metal form: they have an intuitive understanding of this oldschool style of songwriting, totally devoid of modern touch. It’s just a great album all around. How has this music not been discovered? It’s accessible, greatly produced, almost painfully catchy, and just simply some of the best melodic death metal ever written. It’s really something that should be in every metalhead’s collection, as I can’t imagine someone NOT liking this.
Here’s what sucks: you’re reading this review and not even planning to give this a listen, figuring that it’s just one of those fluke albums that I’ve randomly grabbed onto. It’s not. You really have to hear this as all my descriptions of this band’s sound are woefully inadequate to display just how great this band is. You owe it to yourself and to the band to get a copy of ‘The Eyes Of The Basilisk’ and play it until the CD shatters. There is NO REASON NOT TO; at the time of this writing, you can get copies of this album off Ebay for under four dollars INCLUDING SHIPPING. Just go and get one and spread this unknown band’s music; it’s the sort of underground gem that makes me love metal so much.
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