Pathfinders are hailing from France and this is their debut full length album. This band was formed in 2018 and they called themselves after NASA´s space probe Mars Pathfinder. Like their namesake, these guys are not afraid to explore the outer fringes and expand the limits of modern metal. It is thrash metal with progressive and groove metal influences but it is so much more. This is modern metal, although I cringe a little still when I hear this term. Pathfinders play metal. Period. Guitar work is harsh, heavy and not to be joked with, but there are enough melodic and catchy guitar hooks with some atmospheric parts, almost melancholic, but then again it returns to harsher side of metal. Vocals are story for themselves. How easily they transform into screaming, return to melodic beautiful clean voice then back again to almost thrash angry shouting and growling. I love it. Songs are aggressive, yet so varied and so imaginative and well written. At times music of Pathfinders reminds me of Croatian band called Core System, yet Pathfinders are more hard and more metal and I love it. My personal highlights are: Damned Earth, Precious Star. This is a very strong debut album.

8,5/10