Sometimes I come across bands that stand out much from the kind of bands that are normally presented here, despite their being strongly rooted in a black metal soil. One of these bands is definitely Battle Path, from Tennessee. This band was formed in 2008 from the ashes of Under the Earth, doom metal band from Tennessee as well. Their initial goal was to create punishing doom, but elements of black metal soon crept in. The band would soon release both Storm & Stress and Empiric under the original line up. Member changes would soon lead the band to a dual guitar line up. As this created a shift in the band's sound, Battle Path also brought in an entirely new element with the addition of a synth/keyboard set up and Ambedo was created shortly after.
Ambedo develops the musical path started with the first album in an admirable way, that is, black doom metal with influences even from non-metal genres. It is actually black doom metal in which I distinctly hear reminiscences of stoner, post-rock and psychedelic rock. The initial slow and oppressive chords of “A Thirst for Blood”, for instance, show in the best way the stoner element in the soundscape of Battle Path; the instrumental eponymous track “Ambedo” changes decidedly direction with new-age resembling atmospheres; as soon as the following “Ascension” begins, you get immediately the feeling of a 70s-inspired, almost floydian, sound.
One sure thing is that Ambedo is a multifaceted album, to enjoy and discover. I therefore highly recommend you start the Bandcamp player below and to support the band.
Notes:
Ambedo was digitally self-released on November 5 2015.
Personnel:
Christopher Davis: Keyboards and Synths
Todd Harris: Guitars and Vocals
Adam Reed: Guitars
Nathan Reed: Guitars
Casey Stickney: Drums
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
Ambedo develops the musical path started with the first album in an admirable way, that is, black doom metal with influences even from non-metal genres. It is actually black doom metal in which I distinctly hear reminiscences of stoner, post-rock and psychedelic rock. The initial slow and oppressive chords of “A Thirst for Blood”, for instance, show in the best way the stoner element in the soundscape of Battle Path; the instrumental eponymous track “Ambedo” changes decidedly direction with new-age resembling atmospheres; as soon as the following “Ascension” begins, you get immediately the feeling of a 70s-inspired, almost floydian, sound.
One sure thing is that Ambedo is a multifaceted album, to enjoy and discover. I therefore highly recommend you start the Bandcamp player below and to support the band.
Notes:
Ambedo was digitally self-released on November 5 2015.
Personnel:
Christopher Davis: Keyboards and Synths
Todd Harris: Guitars and Vocals
Adam Reed: Guitars
Nathan Reed: Guitars
Casey Stickney: Drums
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
