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My first journey took me to Jena, a small german town in Central Germany, known mostly for its Optical Museum and absolutely stunning surrounding. I'm virtually there to find out more about a local metalcore band by the name of Pathwalker and have a chat with frontman Pascal Dinkel, who describes their music as "the combination of hymn-like sing-alongs and vocally powerful breakdowns" that ultimately aims to bring people together". It is worth mentioning straight from the start that I was personally aporoached by them to check their music as soon as I followed them. New artist should never underestimate the power of social media and credit to them for actively promoting their craft, even to small and relatively insignificant outlets like this one.
Pathwalker are formed in 2019, consist of five super ambitious and talented dudes, and have played lots of underground clubs across Germany, sharing the stage with the likes of Aviana, Dead Like Juliet and Elyne. To this day, the band has released one six-track EP Reflections (2020), followed by two recent singles that tease what is shaping to be a great debut record - 'Price of Growth' (2021) and 'Your own Shadow' (2022). I would recommend starting with the EP to really get a taste of their immense talent, with a personal highlight being 'La Catrina', a relentless banger that convinced me these guys are not to be underestimated, being hit out of nowhere by a blistering mix of melodic death metal influences and modern metalcore tropes.
Pathwalker really tick all the boxes, balancing soaring vocals with brutal growls, and blending epic melodies with thunderous guitar riffs and restless drumming. There is hardly anything more you could wish for, and they keep on getting better with their new singles, especially 'Price of Growth' that premiered last November, starting the next stage in their history and already showing a more mature and confident approach.
Pathwalker's bio is simple yet powerful: "One thousand images. A million thoughts. A billion feelings, around us every day. They strike us like a lightning. Fascinating us, dazzling us, overwhelming us. We are irritated by this world - and the world is irritated by us." These words ring even louder once you've had a chance to talk to the guys. As heavy and raw as they music is, they are all about mindfullness, calmness and awareness. When I asked them if there is one thing they would change to make this mad world better, the guys stated that it would be "full democracy for every country on earth and access to education for every human being" and honestly, this is on top of my list too. Talking about how the band was formed and what they believe in, Pascal told me:
„I grew up a bit apart from society, on a farm, far away from most of society's problems. I think that's why I'm sensitised to it today and don't want to simply accept the social abysses without any commen. The lack of humanity and the impression of a fast-moving world that overruns everyone who doesn't keep in step are the driving motivation for me to raise my voice. Therefore, my urge to stand on a stage has always been huge and I think that if you long for something from the bottom of your heart, there is no barrier that seems too high. This intrinsic motivation applies to all of us equally and that's why we started Pathwalker.“
Talking about the right steps for new bands to take in order to stand above the rest, Pathwalker are a stellar example of how to handle everything in house to a very high standard. From basic music writing, recording and producing, all the way to marketing, video shooting, merch design and management, the boys don't cut any corners and the results are extremely professional. In their words, the reason for this DYI approach is very simple:
"If you wanna bring your imagination to reality, nobody can do it better than yourself, you need to be serious in what you want and realistic in what you plan.We are all totally different personalities in the band and also experts on total different things. So Sebastian is our songwriter and Social Media manager; Raphael is doing all visual stuff and lyrics; Marcel is producing our merchandise; And I am doing all management stuff, controlling, lyrics and am kind of the guy for everything that needs to be done."
Obviously, there is always a helping hand from friends and family, It is worth mentioning that their beloved friend and producer Martin Mayer from Dead Like Juliet is also involved, not to mention the great featuring by Ale from the same band...yup, those same awesome Italians that brought us Stranger Shores in 2018!
You can imagine that it must be quite difficult forming a band in 2019 and releasing a debut EP in March 2020 just as COVID paralysed the entire world and cut off the main stream for rising acts to get their name out there in an industry that is getting increasingly saturated. Pathwalker admit in the last few years it wasn't always easy to stay optimistic with everything that has happened and keeps happening. Just as we were getting out of living in social restrictions and fear, a war broke not far away from all of us and naturally this put everything on hold once more, and goes against everything Pathwalker believe in:
"The war made and makes us paralysed as we can’t understand so much hate and greed of power. And also the Corona crisis was, and still is, a big thing for us as we need to stand on stage and hang with the people we play for. The connection with our fans has changed a lot since 2020 and we are trying to fill the gap that exists ever since we played our first few shows, by connecting with the crowd through social media. But we really wish to improve this situation soon. What keeps us optimistic is at least the hope we can see in people’s eyes and the trust in humanity, to keep our species and our beautiful planet alive."
In their words, in a world that is getting increasingly polarised, emotionally cold and fast-moving, they stand for deceleration, unity and openess; for a family. As any other band that is in these crucial early stages of their career, they realise live concerts are absolutely crucial for establishing their name, finding their place in the scene and growing from there. Things are already starting to look brighter and you can all see the insane amounts of concerts, tours and Summer festivals going ahead this year. Pathwalker are actually confirmed to play on Sommer Palooza 2022, supporting the likes of Imminence, Any Given Day and The Oklahoma Kid. It is amazing for them to be able to share the stage with Imminence in particular, who are not only one of the brightest stars in the modern European metal scene, but also a huge influence and inspiration for the guys.
Aside from the festival, Pathwalker are planning five more releases until the end of the year. The band has already opened a new chapter in their career with 'Price of Growth' and their latest single 'Your Own Shadow' is a good indication of where they are going. While it is a step further from their debut EP, the new tracks already shape a sound that is distinctively theirs and fresh, in a genre that can easily get repetative and predictable. New songs are coming soon so do follow them on Instagram to stay up to date. Pathwalker are also planning to return to the postponed national shows across Germany as soon as possible, and will keep on chasing their dream to tour around the world with their friends Dead Like Juliet. I could absolutely see how this would be an amazing journey and cannot wait to catch them live soon.
As an outsider, I see the modern German metal scene bursting with amazing talent and creative ideas. While veterans like Caliban and Heaven Shall Burn keep marching on stronger than ever, contemporary leaders like Electric Callboy and Annisokay further raise the international profile of a country that is already well known for its heavy music production. The abundance of phenomenal new bands is astonishing, and while I am super excited for all the new music coming by the likes of Future Palace, Oklahoma Kid, Rising Insane, Venues, SETYØURSAILS, it is the likes of Payhwalker that really grab my attention.
Surrounded by such lively scene, the guys are in good company and are already showing signs of a futute star. While still somewhat of an underdogs without the backing of the numerous unstoppable labels operating in the region, the future is ahead of them and I am convinced it looks brighter by the day. Pathwalker realise exactly how much has changes in the last two years, and how eager people are to return back to "normal", whatever that might be: "We noticed that the call for culture and especially concerts seems to be greater that ever. We therefore hope for many wonderful concerts soon." So do we!
Pathwalker are just a few right moves away from blowing up and getting picked up by bigger media outlets, grabbing the attentiom of the industry and hopefully getting propelled to headline slots and international festivals. I wish them all the luck in the world, thank them for reaching out and taking the time to answer all my questions, and usher all of you to check them out asap!
Follow Pathwalker on the links below:
Find their music on our playlists:
Thank you Pathwalker for your time and support!
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