After a couple of events that saw a grey financial cloud lingering over future Pathfinder Promotions concerts (organizer Hoyt Parris even titled #3 "The Final Chapter,” although he's since had a change of heart), the idea of corralling strong regional acts, a couple of national recording artists and the odd young buck seems to resonate with Atlanta metalheads. Actually, the two-day metalfest is attended by out-of-towners as well, visiting the Local Venue, in Marietta, GA, which is inside the Sidelines Sports Bar.

?The 2011 line-up offered bands from most of the surrounding states, as well a non-southern "rebels" like BENEDICTUM and DESDEMON. High schoolers FALLEN TEMPLARS (minus a bassist!) took the stage promptly at 7pm on Friday 11-11-11, the date specifically chosen to coincide with this most metal of numerological occurrences ("This goes to eleven. It's one louder."). Opting for a high energy take on American metal, ala ICED EARTH, albeit a little thin during the peak register. They should stick to originals, like 'My Spirit Within', swirl of guitars and piped in keyboards on an untitled newbie (Matt Salfer Hobbs having since quit the band) or 'Dragonrider's Dawn' as a rough IRON MAIDEN cover added nothing to these newcomers' set. Not to be confused with the Christian outfit with the same name, GREAT AWAKENING is a young fourpiece thrash band from Florida, offering a variety of early 80s, almost NWOBHM, sounds. The drummer could pass for CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho, at a glance. Was struck by the similarity to early OVERKILL (which is always a good thing in my book), not purely mindless speed, nor nostalgia, but rather melodic hooks. Had seen BENEDICTUM about four months earlier, at Warriors Of Metal, in Ohio (nice to see organizers Datis and Lea once more supporting an event so far from home). The Cali troop’s second cross country trek in as many months. Punching the air, statuesque Veronica Freeman commands the stage, whether deftly deflecting horny assholes at the front of the stage, or welcoming true fans. The biggest portion of the set was culled from this year’s Dominion (title cut, ‘At The Gates’, ‘Dark Heart’), although all three albums were represented, by the likes of ‘Shellshock’, ‘Dawn Of Seasons’, ‘Beast In The Field’, even ‘Two Steps To The Sun’, their signature tune and a closing cover of BLACK SABBATH’s ‘Mob Rules’, both off the Uncreation debut.

Along with BENEDICTUM, New York area female fronted DESDEMON were in the midst of a week-long, co-headlining mini-tour, leading up to this coming weekend’s Flight OF The Valkyiers festival, an event showcasing female singers. Barely legal to drink, Chelsea Knaack’s parents were also on the road with her. Onstage, she possesses a presence that belies her young age, belting out material from Through The Gates, their Japanese released debut (Tim “Ripper” Owens and guitarist Joe Stump appearing on an Ep re-recorded track ‘The Burning Martyr’). Kicking off with ‘The Acquiescence Of Illusion’, the singer in red long sleeve/winged top, they also offered up gothic tinged power metal gems like ‘Under the Dark Wings of Fire’, the aforementioned ‘Martyr’, ‘Hands Of Fate’ and ‘Through The Gates’.

The first evening’s headliner was HALCYON WAY, who were one of several acts throughout the weekend to videotape all or part of their set. The Atlantans were interested in filming a couple of IndoctriNation tunes for promo clips, including ‘Age Of Betrayal’ (offered as a radio edit single) and ‘On Black Wings’, which opens the new Nightmare Records album. After witnessing one of Steve Braun’s first gigs with the band, a few years on, he’s the centerpiece of the multi-faceted sound, often aggressive, modern sounding progsters, whether on ‘Rise To Revise’, ‘Inversion’ or even ‘Powderburn’, which pre-dates his involvement with the band.

Saturday, November 12th:

Beginning an hour earlier, the second day’s line-up was infinitely more varied. BRAZEN ANGEL has supported touring nationals, a mixture of lively numbers, punctuated by Chris Cannon’s flashy guitar style. Opener ‘Southern Water’ is a boogie ode to southern culture, referencing the great bands of the 70s and the unforgettable lyric: “We’re southern born and southern bred, and when we die, we’re southern dead!” A complete rock anomaly to the rest of their metal, but a gimmick (begun with a ‘The Devil Went Down To Georgia” cover on their debut) that sets them apart from most of the metal field. Cannon mugs to the crowd throughout ‘Galaxy’, headbanging alongside singer Reese Martin on ‘Crusaders’, the gritty voiced, twin guitar fivesome end with ‘Metal For Eternity’, the type of anthem that goes down a storm in Germany.

CENTRALIA, named for the now abandoned Pennsylvania city situated atop an underground coal mine that has been burning for almost fifty years! The singer is Pathfinder Parris’ son, formerly of ECLIPSED BY SANITY, to whom he dedicated the JUDAS PRIEST styled ‘Lunacy’ (lyrics even utilizes the old moniker). Kicking off with ‘Split The Rings Of Saturn’, we were talking about the lack of a definitive image (certainly not stereotypically metal), yet it was only their third gig: a high pitched, bearded & short haired singer, a baby-faced drummer, a black second guitarist and then there’s the older, graying bassist. Wait! That’s Scott Clendenin, formerly of DEATH, a well disguised fact until the finale, when a modern (without being mechanized/industrialized) ‘Generation New.0’ segues into a cover of ‘Pull The Plug’, dedicated on the fly to the late Chuck Schuldiner. Elsewhere there was ‘The Simple Truth’, Hoyt tried to get the crowd to clap along to their signature tune and ‘Nevewhere Dreamscape’. Hopefully this will gel into something consistently special.

Despite the folk/pagan leaning signature, ODIN’S COURT is keyboard dominated prog, after beginning with a lengthy guitar jam intro, aka ‘Utopian Rust’. ‘Blacktop Southbound’ is singer/songwriter territory. Talk about putting the kibosh on festive mood. By mid-set, most of the enthusiasm and crowd had left the room! ‘Silent Revolution’ indeed. As if to drive the point (of their influences) home, even further, the Maryland natives offered a faithful rendition of PINK FLOYD’s ‘Comfortable Numb’ to end, although I swore a couple of their earlier originals had deconstructed said cover’s lyrics elsewhere.

VOID OF REASON are the only act to perform at each of the Pathfinder metalfests (and they admitted from the stage that the first time, they “sucked,” an exact quote). Judging from the hefty amount of crowd support, this one guitar foursome might be onto something, although even under the most liberal umbrella, they’re not really metal. At best, Disturbed style, Americanized hard rock that some may misconstrue as metal. At worst, imagine George Michael fronting a rock band. As such, probably not worthy of such a lofty position over most of the early, heavier acts, but then fannies in the seats speaks volumes (even if audience had to stand throughout). Songs included ‘Survive’, ‘Take It Away’ and ‘Shine On’, actually could have been notes penciled in my review… The closing cover of IRON MAIDEN’s ‘Can I Play With Madness’ saw them joined onstage by friends and family.

HEPHYSTUS is a variation on the name of the lame-footed blacksmith on Mt. Olympus, in Greek mythology. Another bit of odd stylistic pairing, the progressive North Carolina act is rumored to have the ear of Roadrunner Records (Really? Why? How?). Undeniably heavy (in a grunge sort of way), even with keytar and keyboards, but metal? No. No syncopated headbanging, not even breakdown. Dredlocked singer/guitarist seemed to be the main man, trying to inject a little energy into ‘Malice In Wonderland’, when not fronting a keyboard introduced, a cappella number. Rule #1: If you’re going to play the keytar, no visible tattoos!

SEVEN KINGDOMS unfortunately befell the exodus ushered by late night and a trio of bands far removed from their power metal style. Same, as the female fronted Floridians unleashed a sonic hurricane worthy of their home state. I’d talked to guitarist/founder Camden Cruz earlier in the weekend, apologizing for the poor timing of our last meeting: their initial gig on the BLIND GUARDIAN tour. A young and decidedly nervous band, who’d travelled from the Sunshine State to Philly to kick off the tour, by all accounts they were a different entity by the end of that run. You can see and hear it now, a professional outfit, even just playing to the diehards who remained. Diminutive singer Sabrina Valentine, in Biff Byford approved silver spandex, was confident, interacting with the fans and most importantly, moving around in the live arena. Cruz pinwheeled his hair, all the while laying down wicked riffs, even walking into the crowd during the pre-recorded solo/intro to ‘A Murder Never Dead’ ballad. Other favorites included ‘The Fire Is Mine’, the mid-tempo ‘A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothes’, video game inspired ‘Flame Of Olympus’ and, of course, the signature tune. Looking forward to our next meeting!

There’s probably similar talent in your backyard, apart from expensive, national tour stops. If you get the chance, check out a regional fest. You never know what you’ll discover.

More photos can be viewed here:

Day 1

Day 2