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May 25, 20234 min read

Aeon — Path of Fire (2010)

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On this day (May 25) in 2010, Aeon released their third full-length studio album “Path of Fire” in the US via Metal Blade Records. As per usual fashion, “Path of Fire” saw an earlier release between May 21-24, 2010 in Europe via Metal Blade Records.

Track-list:

01. Forgiveness Denied

02. Kill Them All

03. Inheritance

04. Abomination to God

05. Total Kristus Inversus

06. Of Fire

07. I Will Burn

08. Suffer the Soul

09. The Sacrament

10. Liar in the Name of God

11. God of War

(Original "Aeon — Path of Fire" US CD release)

Album Lineup:

Tommy Dahlström – vocals

Zeb Nilsson – lead guitar, backing vocals, bass

Daniel Dlimi – rhythm guitar, bass

Nils Fjellström – drums

Production & Album Layout:

Producer – Aeon

Recorded at Empire Studio in Östersund, Sweden; September 2009

Mixing – Erik Rutan; Mana Recording Studios in St, Petersburg, Florida

Mastering – Alan Douches; West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York

Cover artwork and layout – Daniel Dlimi

Photo – Jennie Grinde

Background:

As former bassist Max Carlberg had left Aeon at the time of the albums recording, studio sessions had already been booked, thus preventing replacement bassist Victor Brandt (Satyricon) from learning the songs in time, therefore the bass on “Path of Fire” is handled by Aeon's guitarists Zeb Nilsson and Daniel Dlimi. The album was mixed at Mana Recording Studios in St, Petersburg, Florida by Erik Rutan.

(Tommy Dahlström)

Guitarist and the graphic artist of Aeon, Daniel Dlimi, commented on the cover art;

"I created this symbol/badge that for me reflects life, death and the path you have chosen to live your life by. It's about whatever you want to chain yourself to the 10 commandments or live free after your own conscience and will."

(Daniel Dlimi)

On April 19, 2010, Aeon posted "Kill Them All" for streaming online and Nilsson commented;

"This is kind of funny, 'cause I actually dreamt that we were performing this song live and it sounded so cool that I had to start working on it the day after I had the dream. Of course, all the details in it were not in my dream, but the whole concept and idea behind how it was gonna sound was all very realistic. This is a very fast song and it is easy to catch I think. It has some really heavy parts too, and the leads on it ended up really cool too. I think this song will be a good first sample of this album!"

(Zeb Nilsson)

In June 2010, Aeon released a music video for "Forgiveness Denied" and Dlimi commented on the theme of the song and video: "There have been a lot of scandals revealed lately, regarding priests (especially catholic ones) who have been abusing children sexually. In my world, there is nothing more innocent than a child, and the ones who abuse a child sexually will never be forgiven. In my opinion, they deserve to die a horrible, painful death. We want to dedicate this song/video to them, the filthy fucking priests who have laid a hand on a child sexually; we hate you, and want you dead."

(Nils Fjellström)

Noteworthy:

In January 2010, Brandt departed and was replaced by Marcus Edvardsson of Souldrainer and Sanctification.

In September 2010, Fjellström announced his withdrawal from Aeon and from Dark Funeral for personal reasons. The band started to seek a replacement. Malkki rejoined the band in November.

Critical Reception:

In a review for AllMusic, Alex Henderson wrote;

“One thing that you won't hear a lot of Death Metal musicians or Death Metal fans doing is complaining that they don't get enough respect from rock's mainstream. Death Metal has long thrived on its underground, outside-the-mainstream status, and the kids in the mosh pit aren't losing any sleep over the fact that the bands they admire won't be opening for 3 Doors Down anytime soon. That said, Death Metal musicians like it when folks within their subculture compliment them on their chops. It does, in fact, take chops to pull off the type of mildly Technical Death Metal that Aeon provides on “Path of Fire”.

There isn't much variety or nuance on this 2009 recording; Aeon aren't a Melodic Death Metal band of the Callenish Circle/In Flames/At The Gates/Age of Ruin variety. “Path of Fire”, despite a few melodic passages on occasion, is mainly about bombast for the sake of bombast, but it's bombast that requires a considerable amount of technical proficiency; the members of Aeon wouldn't be able to pull this material off if they didn't have their chops together and hadn't spent a lot of time "in the shed," as jazz musicians like to say (in jazz terminology, "the shed" is where musicians practice, practice, practice their instruments and learn to play them well). So even though “Path of Fire” doesn't have much variety and takes few chances, Aeon's chops and musicianship are still impressive. Aeon's textbook approach to Swedish-style Death Metal has its creative limitations, but it's something they are obviously good at. For die-hard Death Metal moshers, this is an exhilarating, if predictable, listen -- creative limitations and all.”

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Listen to “Path of Fire” via Apple Music using this link; https://music.apple.com/us/album/path-of-fire/365975284

Aeon — Path of Fire (2010)

Track-list:

Album Lineup:

Production & Album Layout:

Background:

Noteworthy:

Critical Reception:

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