Band:	Secrets Of The Sky
Album:	Pathway
Style:	Black metal, Doom metal
Release date:	May 19, 2015
Guest review by:	WayTooManyCDs

01. I
02. Three Swords
03. II
04. Angel In Vines
05. Another Light
06. III
07. IV
08. Garden Of Prayers
09. V
10. Fosforos
11. VI
12. Eternal Wolves
13. VII

Pathway is a hard album to get into. Perhaps the biggest complaint is that it has thirteen tracks but there are only six actual songs, leaving some to feel disappointed. Another barrier is that the music is in constant flux between doom metal, black metal, and almost Deftones-like clean vocals, so it is easy to get lost in the chaos despite the songs developing at a fairly slow pace. It took me about five spins before my mind even began to comprehend what was going on. Yet I would argue that what seems like Secrets Of The Sky's biggest error is actually Pathway's greatest strength.

Most music is easy to wrap your head around, after the first listen you have a lot of the basic beats down and by the third you practically have all of the good bits memorized. If you approach Pathway expecting it to meet that standard then you aren't going to like it. In fact, I haven't had an album since Opeth's My Arms, Your Hearse where it felt like a challenge to listen to and yet felt so rewarding every time I did. Music tends to be judged based on how memorable it is, and there are certainly moments on Pathway that will stick in your mind, but generally Pathway is as big a mystery after listening to it as it was before you even put it on. You can be fifty listens into Pathway and still feel like you're getting something new out of it. Not only is that good value for your money, it is the sign of a great work of art.

= In Short = The Roman numeral tracks are interludes, not songs, so be aware of that going in. I've heard complaints that these tracks break up the cohesion of the album but personally I found they add an extra layer of intrigue as they relate to the story the lyrics are telling. I would recommend listening to Secrets Of The Sky's debut album, To Sail Black Waters, first as it follows a more typical black metal structure and is easier to get into. However what Pathway lacks in user friendliness it makes up for in big, memorable moments that encourage tons and tons of repeat listens. If you're willing to put in the time then Pathway will continue to reward you over and over again.