SUNLESS SKIES

This is the second album from the Italian band Pathosray. I was a little apprehensive when I bought this CD without hearing anything off of it. I just loved their first self title release and was somehow worry that this second offering would not meet my high expectations.

In my opinion, this release is not as good as their debut album, but is definitively still worth looking into.

Their sound evolved a little. It seems a little bit less melodic, a little less clean but at the same time just as powerful. Maybe it is because the keyboards seems either too discreet or too dissonant (like, not quite fitting in?or, dare I say, almost annoying like in "Behind The Shadows", "Quantum Enigma" and "Sons Of A Sunless Skies"). Somehow I prefer the way the keyboards/piano were played (or pounded upon) on their previous album.

The rhythmic and riffs sometimes reminds me of the band "Redemption". I have heard of few passages that reminds me of "Dream Theater" and also "Iced Earth". There are still great vocals harmonies present with also the addition of some female vocals on some tracks (something new) that definitively add value.

"Crown Of Thorns" is a great opening track. Other strong moments on this CD are "In Your Arms", "Sons Of Sunless Skies", the power ballad "The Coldest Lullaby" with a duet with a female singer. "Poltergeist" is the best song here. It is also more representative of what they were doing before (and yes! I definitively like the keyboards on that one!). It has some vocals that remind me of a "Great Gig In The Sky" in the closing of the song. I had the bonus track on my CD "For The Last Time" which repeat some of the lyrics and melody of "Poltergeist" but in a different mood altogether.

Definitively a solid effort from theses guys. I am surprised that they don't get more attention. I hope they keep on the good work and I am definitively looking forward the next release. 4 stars.