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 | ||||
| Released | June 7, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | Elmwood Recording, Dallas, TX January 2011 | |||
| Genre | Avant-garde metal, post-metal, black metal | |||
| Length | 57:31 | |||
| Label | Relapse Records CD, LP (RR7158) | |||
| Producer | Tombs | |||
| Tombs chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Blistering |   [2] |
| Blogcritics | (favorable)[3] |
| Metal Injection | 9.1/10[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. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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
editPath 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
- Alan Douches – mastering
- John Congleton – mixing, recording
Art
- Thomas Hooper and Mike Hill – concept and layout
- Thomas Hooper – art and illustration
- Jacob Speis – design
References
edit- ^ Ned Raggett (2011-06-07). "Tombs – Path of Totality". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ David E. Gehlke (2011). "Tombs – Path of Totality (Relapse Records)". Blistering. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
- ^ Gutterdandy (2011-06-08). "Music Review: Tombs – Path Of Totality". Blogcritics. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ Atanamar Sunyata (June 7, 2011). "CD Review: TOMBS – Path of Totality". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ Brad Sanders (2011-08-04). "Reviews Tombs Path of Totality". The Quietus. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Lars Gotrich (2011-04-29). "Song Premiere: Tombs, 'Silent World'". NPR. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ 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.
- ^ BBG (2011-11-27). "Decibel Magazine's Top 40 of 2011". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ Path of Totality (CD liner). Tombs. Relapse Records. 2011.
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