The heavy metal band from Gotenburg Nostradameus starts 2007 convincing with their fifth cd Pathway, which is a strong metal album. The band continues the musical direction of the previous album Hellbound. It took over 1,5 years to make Pathway and the recording lasted over five months. The result is worth waiting; a powerful cd with a superb sound. If I listen to the lyrics and read the titles, the album could be a concept album, all songs are in a special order; from ‘Welcome To Living’ to ‘Death On My Side’.

Pathway is a typical “grow-album”; you have to listen it several times before it grabs you. At first it just seems to be a melodic heavy metal album with eleven songs, but after I listened the record a few times the heavy riffs, grunts and aggressive way of singing by Freddy Parsson caught me. In spite of this dark and aggressive atmosphere the band is still melodic, with a leading part for guitar players Fredén and Specht and singer Persson who is singing sometimes aggressive then again melodic but always very powerful.

The solos are really great, fresh and full of energy.

There are no minus points on this album; actually the album is just one highlight. If I have to name a few favourite tracks they would be ‘Demon Voices’ and ‘MDCC a.d. pt II’; both songs are jewels with varied atmospheres but still melodic, great singing, superb solos and strong structures. With ‘Not Only Women Bleed’ the band has a beautiful emotional ballad that fits with the rest of the songs. What more can I say.

I think Nostradameus will have some trouble to surpass this with the next album, but who cares now; just enjoy Pathway.