AFTER LAPSE from Spain are about to release their new opus “Pathways” via Frontiers Music. Expanding to a sextet through the addition of guitarists Miguel Angel Rueda and Ivan Marin, these musicians explore the vast playbook that melodic progressive metal offers. The results can be vivid, imaginative, reflective as well as modern in terms of versatility, atmosphere, and distinctiveness – allowing listeners to take deep dives into this set of material.
The opener, “The Shadow People,” is both heavy, crunchy, and melodic, and the guitar work is first-rate. A tough one to pin down, “Clones” treads a modern prog route, think Haken and the likes, but is rather more melodic than that.
The keys on “Dust To Dust” ensure Rubin Sancha is right to the fore, but the harmonies here are lush. And if the intro to “Thanks But No Thanks” recalls Dream Theater, then you can only surmise that comparison will be welcome.
As much as the structure and time changes here are as elaborate as any prog record, After Lapse aren’t copying anyone. The chorus and hook to “Dying Star” are pure melodic metal—which gives way to a heavy breakdown and somewhat brooding verses. Indeed, that one feels very much like the centrepiece here.
“Walking By The Wire” is—initially, at least—a change of pace, but they can’t resist some arena rock bombast, and you can see how they would have fitted on a bill with the mighty Threshold when they do “Wounds Of The Past”.
This is just a superb record.
Seemingly emerging from nowhere and on the Frontiers Label, better known for its melodic rock than anything like this, the slow-building “Turn Into Light” alone should mark this band out as one to investigate. A ballad, it adds a texture to this collection but hints at the idea that After Lapse see themselves on the big stages. This soars as high as anything in the ’80s ever did.
Although some sound epic, they pull off the always neat trick of not actually being that lengthy. And then comes “Temperance,” a kind of instrumental epilogue. As if to give you thinking time.
If the credits roll on this—and you can see it as a kind of film soundtrack—then they do so on a record that is one of those rare but always beautiful things that can only happen when you discover a new band. It sounds like “Pathways” is a pathway to future greatness.
HIGHLY Recommended
1. The Shadow People
2. Clones
3. Dust To Dust
4. Thanks, But No Thanks
5. Dying Star
6. Walking By The Wire
7. Wounds Of The Past
8. Turn Into Light
9. Temperance
Rubén Miranda - vocals
Miguel Ángel Rueda - guitars
Pablo Sancha - keyboards and backing vocals
Ivan Marín - guitars
Javier Palacios - bass
Roberto Cappa - drums
After Lapse – Pathways 2024+FLAC
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