While they sometimes fall off our radar, we’re never not interested in what The Birthday Massacre has to offer (Although we did review the last three full-lengths). Like returning to the music of Canada’s The Birthday Massacre is similar to catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen in some time yet connect with instantly, the band’s latest does something in that vein by returning to a more guitar-oriented sound that was most prevalent during their early 2010’s era. Read: Pathways might be TBM’s heaviest/loudest yet.
Even for The Birthday Massacre, who definitely doesn’t shy away from the Heavy, opener “Sleep Tonight” is kinda brutal with the guitar-centric onslaught at its’ core and the double heaping of riffs from Falcore and Rainbow before Chibi’s angelic voice comes in like a spectre to soften the blow. Branching out, “All Of You” is an Electro/Industrial-tinged affair with Chibi’s ethereal delivery melting into the instrumental framework while “The Vanishing Game” is peak The Birthday Massacre perfection with Deadsy-like synth tones running rampant toward a lush chorus. Following that opening trio, the title track pounces while bouncing relentlessly and “Whisper” is a steadily moving stomp pushed forward by Phillip Elliott’s drumming leading to the glistening of the chorus effervescently enunciated by Chibi (Who peppers in some sinister singing as well).
“Wish” sounds so familiar (Like straight out of some New Wave-centric soundtrack of the ’80’s) yet is an original The Birthday Massacre classic through and through with Owen’s keyboard lines and Rainbow’s programming creating a synthetic soundscape around Chibi’s voice and accented by Brett ‘Bat’ Carruthers’ bass as “Faces” hearkens back to the opener and the Kaiju-sized riff monster-ness of it all as Falcore’s guitars squeal and scream and Rainbow’s rip it up. Then we get “Cruel Love” which is the perfect fit to end the newest from TBM lighting up the final moments of Pathways with a glowing anthem.
Pathways releases through Metropolis Records on April 11th with pre-orders live now and available to peruse and/or purchase by clicking here or on the stream below. You can support the band directly by joining their Patreon page here or hop on the information superhighway and then head here or here for all the rest including where to catch The Birthday Massacre on their Spring headline run which stops at Boston’s Paradise Rock Club on May 1st.