AN NCS PREMIERE: BLIZARO — “SENTENCED PATHWAYS”

(written by Islander)

We’re about to ignore the tongue-in-cheek name of our site and jump off our usual beaten paths in other ways too, jumping off and landing in a head-spinning musical never-never land.

The occasion for this big leap is our premiere of a song from Light And Desolation, the third album from the upstate New York band Blizaro, which will be released next month by Nameless Grave Records.

For those of you who (like me) are encountering Blizaro for the first time, it’s the solo work of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist John Gallo — who is also the guitarist/founder of traditional doom band Orodruin on Cruz Del Sur Records, and previously played with Dan Lilker in Crucifist, who released Demon-Haunted World on Profound Lore Records in 2009.

Trying to describe the multi-faceted music on Light And Desolation is a challenge, but the publicist for Nameless Grave makes a valiant effort:

BLIZARO’s Light And Desolation delivers nine captivating new anthems that drift through the heavy fog of doom metal with the inspirational catalyst of Goblin, Pagan Altar, Tangerine Dream, and Paul Chain, weaving cinematic soundscapes with a flair for the theatrical. Born from the stark echoes of Italian horror scores and ‘70s prog rock as well as doom and heavy metal, the band conjures a world where brooding riffs, melodic tales, and cosmic despair collide.

While you’re trying to wrap your head around that preview, let’s get your head even more tangled up through the song we’re now premiering, a musical fantasia named “Sentenced Pathways“. Here’s what John Gallo has said about it:

This song came about after I was listening to Death’s ‘Crystal Mountain,’ and was influenced by Rush and is a sort of tribute to Neil Peart. I really like the flow of riffs on this one and the emotion behind the lyrics. It’s about choosing your own will but heeding closely to the prospects of fate. A voyage to find truths.

So many things happen in the song, and so many of them are surprising (and out of this world), that trying to carefully map its course could be a big spoiler. But of course I’m going to highlight some of what lies ahead, while giving you permission (as if you needed it) to just jump right down now and press Play.

The first eye-opening surprise comes very quickly. Following a brief trumpet-like fanfare backed by a menacing rhythmic stomp, a guitar solo flares like an acetylene torch that became sentient and then lost its mind, a dose of exhilarating fret-melting delirium.

As you continue winding your way through this unreal musical labyrinth you’ll encounter changing vocals, some gritty and some high-flying and clean in the vein of trad doom, as well guitar adventures that generate diabolically weaving and freakishly darting sensations, wickedly burbling bass notes, varying drum progressions, and persistently menacing riffage that’s jagged in tone.

The melodic variations also include an intriguing (but still unearthly) guitar-and-bass duet, wordless wails, black-magic soloing, and fluidly rippling keys that evolve into haunting ethereal mists.

Perhaps most impressive, all of the song’s richly varying ingredients hang together extremely well, because they’re all variations on a central theme.

Light And Desolation was recorded and mixed at Doom Shore Studios, remixed by Andrew Lee (Ripped To Shreds, Houkago Grind Time), mastered by Zane Knight (Gates Of Paradox, Eternal Crypt), and completed with artwork and layout by John Gallo.

Nameless Grave will release the album on CD and digital formats on September 26th. They recommend it for fans of Black Sabbath, ‘70s Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Uriah Heep, Candlemass, Trouble, Run After To, Black Hole, Nigro Mantia, Future Shock, Sarcofagis, Vangelis, and Mike Oldfield.

To further whet your appetites, after the links we’re also including a stream of the album’s first single, “Lightning Strikes Back“.

PRE-ORDER:
https://namelessgraverecords.com/products/blizaro-light-and-desolation-cd-presale-copy
https://blizaro.bandcamp.com/album/light-and-desolation

BLIZARO:
https://blizaro.bandcamp.com

NAMELESS GRAVE:
https://www.namelessgraverecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/NamelessGraveRecords
https://www.instagram.com/namelessgraverecords
https://namelessgraverecords.bandcamp.com