A Lesson in Music : Paths of Possession - Promises in Blood

Here's a crazy 6 degrees of separation for you, and you may enjoy it.

I have a good friend, who has a good friend, who plays guitar in a band called Paths of Possession. Okay, so theres not 6 degrees. Like two.

For all you metal enthusiasts out there, I decided to do a post on the band, as metal is a genre of music I have little or no experience reviewing and listening to, really.

I had decided to do a review a few months ago, intending on having it done within a week. I realized I didn't have the balls to do a review on a band or genre I was completely unfamiliar with. That was my goal, to broaden my spectrum here at LTM, but I suppose the radical difference between death metal and other music we've reviewed here made me feel like a bit of n00b. Here goes.

Paths of Possession is, according to Wikipedia (I referenced the wiki because I have no idea what kind of metal the band makes, me being a complete novice) a solid mix of traditional heavy metal with influences of Swedish melodic death metal. Anybody who knows metal well enough should be familiar with the lead singer, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, who used to lead the band Cannibal Corpse.

To be honest, when I first listened to the album a couple of times, I didn't like it. I didn't understand why someone would voluntarily listen to music that makes you feel like you're falling down a pit of hell, and you never hit bottom. It's like a the action-movie fall into a volcano, with no grisly end. All I could think about was calling Randy and asking him why he was so pissed off, and that I'd give him a hug if he needed one.

I remembered a trip to the beach I took the other day, with my good friend who introduced me to Jay. A song by Metallica came on the radio, and she turned it up, sang along with every word, and when the song ended, she turned to me and said, "See, Jen, that is the kind of music that relaxes me, and makes me feel better." I suppose I've come to understand, and appreciate metal music, but I don't think I'll ever listen to it with the intent of it relaxing me. This isn't to say the album isn't good, but rather that I know that everyone makes their own kind of music, through their lives, and although this isn't it for me, it certainly works for many other people. And to those many other people, I think you'll like this album. A lot.

For Jay and Veronika

Metal Blade Records

The helpful Wiki Entry

Related Audio:

Bring Me the Head of Christ

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/10%20Bring%20Me%20The%20Head%20Of%20Christ.mp3]

Darklands (MP3)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20Darklands.mp3]

Bleed the Meek (MP3)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/03%20Bleed%20The%20Meek.mp3]

UPCOMING U.S. TOUR

Jul 12 2007