This is the second album from UK sludge/post-metallers Conjurer.
This much-anticipated lab of heaviness is the 53-minute follow up to 2018’s punishing Mire.
A contemporary blend of sludge and post-metal, with elements of doom, hardcore, and progressive metal, Páthos takes the sound that Mire did so well and pushes it further, expanding on its core heaviness with a greater range of textures and emotions. It’s like a vicious nest of crushing riffs has been smashed together with a multifaceted collection of rich soundscapes, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
These new songs showcase Conjurer as just as world-shatteringly heavy, but now also more dynamic and emotive. The band’s heaviness is now equally matched by a weight of feeling that’s uncommon in such an uncompromising band. The band’s talent for riff-craft has firmly embraced this emotive presence; there’s less reliance on direct-appeal riffs, (these are now used more strategically), and more use of riffs with greater potency of depth and impact. The results are very impressive indeed.
Conjurer’s dark soundscapes are newly-expansive and wider-ranging, incorporating post-metal introspection and reflective beauty in more noticeable abundance. Although these elements have been teased before, on Páthos they flourish, fully embedded into the Conjurer sound. The end result is a more comprehensive and accomplished listening experience, and a more well-rounded offering from this superlative act.
Conjurer’s songwriting has really taken confident strides forward, and it’s great to see the development from Mire, which in itself was a strong debut album. As shocking as it might seem, Páthos improves on it in every way, firmly putting Conjurer on the map a as a premier league metal act.
Essential listening.
Off to Amazon I go