Band:	Red Mesa
Album:	The Path To The Deathless
Style:	Doom metal, Stoner metal
Release date:	June 12, 2020
Guest review by:	Cynic Metalhead

01. Ghost Bell [feat. Kristen Radoslovich]
02. The Path To The Deathless
03. Desert Moon [feat. Dave Sherman]
04. Death I Am
05. Disharmonious Unlife [feat. Wino]
06. Revelation
07. Swallowed By The Sea [feat. Kristen Radoslovich]

About a month ago, while listening to Slomatics, I discovered Red Mesa's album The Path To The Deathless. Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Red Mesa blends desert, stoner, and psychedelic rock, creating a soundscape filled with unexpected twists and turns. Their music encapsulates listeners in a brooding and reflective mood, both stylistically and sonically. Despite its brilliance, I noticed that the album has received very little attention (both here and outside Metal Storm). Therefore, I decided to highlight this terrific release to give it the recognition it deserves.

Red Mesa's magnum opus, The Path To The Deathless, is a conceptual album that delves into themes of life, death, and the deathless. This record is an engrossing reflection of the dusty desert sounds of Kyuss and the psychedelic power trips of Monster Magnet. It carries familiar heaviness, but its morbid themes are presented through a meditative and spiritual lens rather than an overly dark one. The album opens with "Ghost Bell", an introduction that sets the tone for what's to come. The title track, "The Path to the Deathless", builds a wall of massive riffs, steadily pounding drums, and smooth, droning fuzz that gives the listener the sensation of tripping balls. Its culmination features raw, smoke-singed, and whiskey-tinged vocals, pulling listeners into its immersive sonic journey.

While many newer bands lean heavily on incorporating deterring sounds room, Red Mesa opts for a masterful balance. Their guitars carry the mandatory weight and presence, yet they skillfully leave ample space for the other elements to shine. "Desert Moon" shows David Sherman (Earthride) taking on all vocal duties, with the song's fluid and rolling nature surpassing even the best Earthride tracks. He uses the momentum to stretch every syllable to its breaking point. In contrast, "Disharmonious Unlife" features Wino from Saint Vitus with a commanding yet avuncular voice and earthy, soulful guitars. Although countless bands boast collaborations with this doom progenitor, often resulting in superfluous cameos, Red Mesa seamlessly integrates these guest appearances, ensuring they enhance the vibe rather than overshadow it.

The penultimate track, "Revelation", is a heavy grooving blast that channels the pure essence of Kyuss, offering an enjoyable romp that paves the way for the epic closer, "Swallowed By The Sea." This mournful dirge begins with wailing violin and guitars atop the waves, gradually cutting through choppy waters with a slightly more aggressive edge before drifting into deeper, calmer seas.

One of the album's standout strengths is its execution of harsh vocals, buried in the mix to create the rich sound of a distant spectre—the voice of Death. Haunting strings, cawing crows, and somber, ominously tolling bells add enriching elements on the record. While the immediate impression is a straightforward blend of desert, stoner, and psychedelic rock, the album is layered with subtle, intricate details. The drumming stands out with a luxurious palette of rhythmic maneuvers, accentuations, breaks, and fills.

The Path To The Deathless by Red Mesa is a terrific album that fans of desert, stoner, doom, and other heavier rock genres will love. While previous albums offer a delicious taste of the desert rock genre, this record employs techniques that elevate it beyond the typical desert or stoner rock album, making it a unique and compelling listen.