Out Today: Pathways by Secrets of the Sky -

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Out Today: Pathways by Secrets of the Sky

Oakland-based atmospheric doom quintet and recent Metal Blade signees, SECRETS OF THE SKY, will release their long-awaited sophomore full-length Today! Titled Pathway, the mammoth thirteen-track follow-up to 2013’s critically-heralded To Sail Black Waters full-length was engineered, mixed, mastered and co-produced by Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios with SECRETS OF THE SKY and finds the band at their most poignant.

Dark, brooding, pure, eclectic, Pathway features Garett Gazay fluctuating between monstrous growls and clean, soothing vocal cascades, all the while complimenting the twisted compositions of guitarists Andrew Green and Clayton Bartholomew. Bassist Ryan Healy and drummer Lance Lea round out the lineup, their rhythms and distinctive voices adding further depth to the collective’s meticulous, blackened soundscrapes. Sonically, SECRETS OF THE SKY aimed for a massive, clean, and organic sounding production. Much time was invested in obtaining huge drum sounds and the focus was on single performance takes throughout the process. The result is an ambitious foray into conceptual storytelling, coupled with emotional music full of peaks and valleys. This is a metal record, to be sure, but more importantly, it sounds like an album of music. This is not a random sequencing of songs or a search for a “hit” single; the tracks all have their place in the story, and the cuts in between actually drive the narrative through sound effects and ambience. SECRETS OF THE SKY’s Pathway is an experience to be had, as well as a record to merely be heard.

Comments Bartholomew of first single, “Three Swords“: “‘Three Swords’ was the first song we put together for the new album when we started writing it back a year or so ago. In fact, the songs on the album were written in the order they appear on the record. The first album, To Sail Black Waters, ends with a single guitar part fading out, and the same riff fades in to the Pathway album via ‘Three Swords.’ The song is just a piece of the overall puzzle that constitutes Pathway, which I believe as an album is more well-rounded and dynamic as a whole than any of our previous work.”

Pathway Track Listing:
1. I
2. Three Swords
3. II
4. Angel In Vines
5. Another Light
6. III
7. IV
8. Garden Of Prayers
9. V
10. Fosforos
11. VI
12. Eternal Wolves
13. VII

SECRETS OF THE SKY formed in the Oakland, California area in 2010 and have spent that past half decade building a reputation as one of the finest underground metal acts. They’ve patiently and deliberately developed a unique sound that melds psychedelic, progressive atmospheres with heavy doom. With their live show, they work to create a mood and offer an experience, a true companion piece to their albums. SECRETS OF THE SKY’s debut album, To Sail Black Waters, was released on Kolony Records in 2013 and managed to find its way onto year end lists in Decibel Magazine and across the blogosphere: metalsucks.net, teethofthedivine.com, and more.

Half of 2013 was devoted to touring, and lead to a split with Godhunter. In 2014, two new tracks were recorded and released as part of the cleverly titled split: GH/OST:S. The cassette edition was unleashed during the SECRETS OF THE SKY and Godhunter tour that June, followed by a deluxe LP and digital release in September via The Compound/Battleground Records. To cap off 2014, the band performed as part of Southwest Terror Fest (Neurosis, Sunn O))), Pelican, Goatsnake, etc.), and Salt Lake City’s LuciFest. After the conclusion of their 2014 touring schedule, SECRETS OF THE SKY dedicated their time to writing and recording their sophomore effort, Pathway.

SCRETS OF THE SKY’s Pathway is officially unveiled on Metal Blade Records. For order bundles, scroll on over to: metalblade.com/secretsofthesky.

In conjunction with the release, SECRETS OF THE SKY will support UK extreme metal duo/labelmates, Anaal Nathrakh, on their North American live takeover next month. Beginning May 11th in Sacramento, California and concluding on May 22 in Trenton, New Jersey, the trek will crush twelve cities with additional support from special guests, Incite. From there, SECRETS OF THE SKY will conquer seventeen more locales through eleven states alongside Tucson sludge ensemble, North, on select dates, with additional onstage endeavors in the plotting stages.

SECRETS OF THE SKY w/ Anaal Nathrakh, Incite:
5/11/2015 Starlite – Sacramento, CA
5/12/2015 Complex – Los Angeles, CA
5/13/2015 Backstage Bar – Las Vegas, NV
5/14/2015 Club X – Salt Lake City, UT
5/15/2015 Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
5/16/2015 Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
5/17/2015 Live Wire Lounge – Chicago, IL
5/18/2015 Empire Concert Club – Akron, OH
5/19/2015 TBA – Rochester, NY *SECRETS OF THE SKY only
5/20/2015 Sammy’s Patio – Revere Beach, MA *SECRETS OF THE SKY only
5/21/2015 St. Vitus – Brooklyn, NY
5/22/2015 Championship’s – Trenton, NJ
End Tour
5/23/2015 Goodfellas – McMechen, WV w/ Brimstone Coven
5/24/2015 TBA – Charlotte, NC
5/25/2015 TBA – Atlanta, GA
5/27/2015 TBA – Little Rock, AR
5/29/2015 TBA – Santa Fe, NM
5/30/2015 Tempe Tavern – Phoenix, AZ
6/06/2015 Golden Bull – Oakland, CA
w/ North:
6/12/2015 The Complex – Glendale, CA
6/13/2015 Caravan – San Jose, CA w/ Cold Blue Mountain
6/14/2015 1078 Gallery – Chico, CA w/ Cold Blue Mountain
6/15/2015 The Wandering Goat – Eugene, OR w/ Cold Blue Mountain
6/16/2015 Rotture – Portland, OR w/ Cold Blue Mountain
6/17/2015 Black Lodge – Bremerton, WA
6/18/2015 The Pin – Spokane, WA
6/19/2015 The Railyard – Billings, MT
6/20/2015 Foot Foot Fest – Fort Collins, CO w/ Reproacher
6/21/2015 7th Circle Collective – Denver, CO