A death spiral into the future of metal music

Pathos and Logos is a Colorado-based duo composed of guitarist Kyle Neeley and drummer Paul Christiansen. They formed in 2018 and would spend two years releasing singles and building a creative synergy until 2020 when they released their debut studio album, Glory to the Order. Throughout the album, their chemistry and talent were on full display in what felt like a 40-minute, to-the-death jam session. Two and a half years later, the duo would give the world a new set of tracks on their latest EP, Cult. On this release, Neeley and Christiansen would focus on a more aggressive approach and drive deeper into death metal sounds.

Their focus of creativity is in the niche genre of progressive metal. It is the combination of the common tropes of progressive rock mixed with the aggressiveness of metal. Think of King Crimson’s Court of the Crimson King. On Cult, Pathos and Logos lean into the metal side more while keeping the progressive rock atmosphere.

The runtime of Cult is just 23 minutes, yet the duo packs a lot within that window. The first of the four-song EP is “Initiation.” It’s a highlight within the tracklist and a personal favorite from Pathos and Logos. The second track, “Novitiate”, starts with groovy guitar strumming similar to the beginning of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.” We then get acoustic whiplash as Christiansen swoops in with aggressive drumming and Neeley breaks out into a Metallica-like guitar jam session. This death metal frenzy continues on the third track, “Regnum.” Drumming takes the spotlight on this track as it attacks the ears with clanging cymbals and bellowing drums. The final track, “Ivdex”, is the most aggressive of the bunch. It ends the EP on an energetic, almost triumphant note.

Cult is a look into the future of metal music. The non-stop, aggressive nature of it makes you feel like you’re a knight in armor slaying a beast. However, there were some points throughout the album where the tracks dragged on a bit too long. You could tell the duo had a blast at making the music, but that fun can come to the detriment of the EP. You could take out some of the middle parts of songs like “Novitiate” and have a more enjoyable song. Cult is a great listen for established metal/rock fans and new listeners alike.