Pathology

Pathology's 2010 release, Legacy of the Ancients, was one of the most outstanding death metal albums of the year. But, for some reason, the San Diego, CA band's follow-up, Awaken to the Suffering, just doesn't quite hold up. While Pathology have the technical prowess for brutal, goregrind-esque death metal (the band feature drummer Dave Astor of the Locust and Cattle Decapitation), there's nothing innovative about the album and in a genre that adheres to a specific musical formula, there needs to be something that separates a group from the pack. The guitar work is heavy and intense, but the riffs are rather straightforward and repetitive, and although I love some good low, gurgly gutturals, there's no range in Jonathan Huber's vocals. The one standout track on Awaken to the Suffering is "Opposing Globalization," in which Pathology correct the aforementioned wrongs and whip out a surprisingly invigorating few minutes.