PATHOS - HOVERFACE - 1997

Fans of progressive metal acts like Nevermore, Iced Earth, or Savatage will most likely be fascinated by the sounds and style of Swedish metallers Pathos. The debut album by this quintet is full of great riffs and a lot of creative songwriting. From start to finish, _Hoverface_ glides with the greatest of ease and lets loose some nifty guitar playing and strong vocal harmonies. Reminiscent of the first Nevermore record and the heaviness of vintage Savatage, _Hoverface_ explores a realm of music that so few can create while sounding fresh and innovative. As those who follow this genre know, many who attempt this style sound as though they are cloning the genre's stereotypes -- this band does not. The key to the success of this outing is singer Stephan Carlsson's great voice, which compliments the music quite well. Also, I would be a fool to not mention the exquisite guitar duties provided by both Lennart Specht and Daniel Antonsson. What a great duo! A strong debut effort where everything seems to click properly together.