ALBUM REVIEW: Pathbuilder – Graveyhard

With Pathbuilder, Italian sludge purveyors GRAVEYHARD explore the hefty side of their sound, and take that particular component as far as it could possibly go. The power of GRAVEYHARD here is simply earth-shattering, fulfilled with stoned out riffs, moderately distorted bass, manic drumming, and tormented bellowing. All of that mayhem is soaked in a sheet of dense, misty sludge. But full blast attacks are only one part of the rather archetypal stoner/sludge formula that GRAVEYHARD exploits, which is comprised of edgy atmospherics followed by jolting noise. 

The ambient parts of Pathbuilder are finely tuned; they work for building rigidity and apprehension. They are very desolate and willowy, but at the same time depict a feeling of uneasiness. From time to time during these ambient parts, GRAVEYHARD produce harmonies that are minute but dissonant. This is on display during the ghostly opening to Burn Forever. While this may sound like a bad idea, it works perfect in the sense that it keeps the listener on edge and alert.

Pathbuilder is definitely meant to be heard as a whole. If singled out, the individual songs are riveting in the sense that the culminations are strong and the atmospheric pieces are well done, but if listened to together, the obstinate repeating of specific motifs makes for a mesmerising listening experience. Take, for example, the album opener Blame Yourself. The main stoner riff built on sustained chords is replicated so many times that it hypnotises the listener. Just when the listener is about to escape from their trance, GRAVEYHARD change gears. It seems like each musical passage on Pathfinder is executed for the exact right amount of time; long enough to hypnotise the listener, but not to the point in which it becomes tedious. Because of this infallible accuracy, GRAVEYHARD creep in a few queer details that could be dull on another album, but only serve to further the menacing, mesmerising mood here. 

Another thing that works in the album’s favour is the production. It’s sludgy, almost as though the group submerged their mics in mud before recording, and while this would normally be displeasing, it works to Pathfinder’s advantage. Stony songs call for stony production, and GRAVEYHARD definitely seem to understand that concept. As great as a sublimely distorted stoner/sludge riffs can be over a despondent soundscape, too often groups fail to realise that you have to actually take your music somewhere. GRAVEYHARD fall in the atmospheric wing, certainly, as their sound is tilted more on perceptibly enchanting soundscapes.

That leads to the second point, which is GRAVEYHARD’s importance of texture and vibe works very well with a style concentrated on doom, where the vocals feel like a hindsight. Aside from quite a few strikingly ponderous riffs, you don’t get shocked by a change, and the vocals make Pathfinder feel heftier than it actually is. Band’s melodic tendencies carry their load here, aiding in lifting the moments when tracks start to feel like dragging.

Far from being obvious, Pathfinder is a wholly captivating ride from beginning to end. This is a well-built mammoth of an album that only grows more fierce with every listen.

Rating: 7/10

Pathbuilder is set for release April 17th via Argonauta Records.

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