Path of Totality is the second full-length studio album from American metal band Tombs. It was released on June 7, 2011 through Relapse Records in CD, LP and digital download formats. It is the group's first album to be recorded by John Congleton.[6]

Path of Totality
Album cover artwork by Thomas Hooper
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 7, 2011
RecordedElmwood Recording, Dallas, TX
January 2011
GenreAvant-garde metal, post-metal, black metal
Length57:31
LabelRelapse Records CD, LP
(RR7158)
ProducerTombs
Tombs chronology
Fear Is The Weapon
(2010)
Path of Totality
(2011)
Savage Gold
(2014)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blistering[2]
Blogcritics(favorable)[3]
Metal Injection9.1/10[4]
The Quietus(favorable)[5]

According to Mike Hill, the album title is a reference to the channel of darkness, or shadow, that is cast upon the earth in the moment when the moon obscures the sun during a solar eclipse.[7] Concerning the lyrics, Mike Hill commented: "The lyrics are less personal, in that they have nothing to do with my personal experiences or any kind of internal narrative. The new record deals more with reflections on death, endings and the sort of existential cynicism that can easily creep into your consciousness living in a world where there seems be an incredible level of detachment."[8]

Decibel Magazine ranked Path of Totality number one in their Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2011 list.[9]

Track listing

edit
No.TitleLength
1."Black Hole of Summer"5:22
2."To Cross the Land"5:53
3."Constellations"2:39
4."Bloodletters"4:31
5."Path of Totality"4:51
6."Vermillion"4:58
7."Passageways"3:31
8."Silent World"4:24
9."Cold Dark Eyes"6:46
10."Black Heaven"5:09
11."Red Shadows"4:48
12."Angel of Destruction"3:44
Total length:57:31

Personnel

edit

Path of Totality album personnel adapted from the CD liner notes[10]

Tombs

  • Mike Hill – vocals, guitar
  • Carson Daniel James – bass
  • Andrew Hernandez II – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

  • Bryant Clifford Meyer – synthesizer, keyboard on "Black Hole of Summer", "Angel of Destruction" & "Black Heaven"
  • The Champ Morgan – back up vocals on "Vermillion", "Path of Totality" & "Angel of Destruction"

Production

Art

  • Thomas Hooper and Mike Hill – concept and layout
  • Thomas Hooper – art and illustration
  • Jacob Speis – design

References

edit
  1. ^ Ned Raggett (2011-06-07). "Tombs – Path of Totality". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  2. ^ David E. Gehlke (2011). "Tombs – Path of Totality (Relapse Records)". Blistering. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  3. ^ Gutterdandy (2011-06-08). "Music Review: Tombs – Path Of Totality". Blogcritics. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  4. ^ Atanamar Sunyata (June 7, 2011). "CD Review: TOMBS – Path of Totality". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Brad Sanders (2011-08-04). "Reviews Tombs Path of Totality". The Quietus. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  6. ^ BBG (2011-04-29). "Tombs & A Storm of Light releasing new LPs, touring (MP3s, dates & an interview w/ Josh Graham)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  7. ^ Lars Gotrich (2011-04-29). "Song Premiere: Tombs, 'Silent World'". NPR. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  8. ^ Philip Eisenhauer (2010-12-20). "Interview : TOMBS – Exclusive Winter 2010 Studio Report". MindOverMetal.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  9. ^ BBG (2011-11-27). "Decibel Magazine's Top 40 of 2011". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  10. ^ Path of Totality (CD liner). Tombs. Relapse Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
edit