Progressive instrumental duo Pathos and Logos are set to release their brand new EP entitled Cult which is set to be released on June 24th. The bands guitarist Kyle Neely and drummer Paul Christiansen took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about the band’s upcoming album, plans for the rest of the year, their favorite guitar solos, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: How did the formation of Pathos & Logos come about?
KYLE: We originally met in NJ when I was working at Trax East recording studio on the God Forbid IV record. A friend of GF introduced us and I forced myself on Paul’s band at the time (as the singer) which He fired me from lol.
PAUL: Pathos & Logos was formed after another band we were in, The Caveat (featuring Michael Stancel of Allegaeon) deactivated, and we realized that to move forward in the way that we wanted to we had to scale down to a 2 piece. Since doing so, we have been more active and productive than ever.
MER: Who are some of your major influences?
PAUL: Major influences include everyone from Meshuggah, Slayer and Metallica to Charlie Parker, Bill Evans and James Brown.
KYLE: For me, it would be the Contradictions Collapse thru Chaosphere era of Meshuggah’s catalogue. Mix in Pantera, Deftones, Frank Sinatra and Sade and you have a perfect happy hour cocktail if you ask me.
MER) Pathos & Logos will soon be releasing the new EP entitled Cult. What can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
PAUL: Cult is our first foray into a concept-driven recording. First, we are releasing it in an album format we created called a “Codex”, which is a series of Tarot-like cards with art on the front of each that relates to the song it represents, but also to the feeling of the overall theme.
KYLE: It’s a coming of age story for us. We have both been active in the music industry for years, but behind the scenes. So I would be lying if I told you that it HAS NOT felt great to have the spotlight on us now that we are focusing all of our energy on this project and not someone else’s.
MER: How would you compare the material on Cult to the band’s first album Glory to the Order?
KYLE: Heavier. We started writing these tracks not long after my Dad died. Everything is heavy after you lose a loved one, I think. In many different ways.
PAUL: For a variety of reasons we could feel that the music, while not entirely sacrificing the diversity that we cherish, definitely had a stronger and more specific message to get across this time, and we did everything we could to craft it that way.
MER: What do you see as far as plans for the band after the release of Cult?
PAUL: We just envision accelerating, honestly.
KYLE: To push this as far as possible until we absolutely must have a record label. We place a great amount of pride in the preservation of our self agency.
MER: Is there anywhere that you hope to play live that you haven’t yet?
KYLE: We really want to increase our festival appearances, both nationally and abroad.
PAUL: Canada and Europe for sure.
MER) Who would you like to take out on tour and why? (Headline or support.)
PAUL: Well, that’s a long list, but if we ever got to tour with Meshuggah, that would be a dream come true. They’ve been a principal source of inspiration for many, many years and continue to motivate us with everything they do.
KYLE: Meshuggah for sure. Lamb of God. Deftones would be nuts. Touring with Hatebreed or God Forbid would be crazy, since Paul and I started out working for those bands.
MER: If you could put together your own supergroup for an instrumental project, who would it be?
KYLE: Abe Cunningham on Drums, Marten Hagsrom on guitar with Eddie Van Halen taking lead duties. Les Claypool plays bass.
PAUL: Now you’re talking! It would be amazing to get together with Tosin Abasi, the pianist Charles Cornell and Adam Neely on bass and see what we come up with.
MER: What are some of your favorite guitar solos?
PAUL: One of my all time favorite solos is a little off the beaten path, it’s dimebag’s solo on ‘Strength Beyond Strength’ from Far Beyond Driven. It’s not shreddy, it’s lyrical and he has a funny harmony on it that gives me chills no matter how many times I listen to it.
KYLE: I have to go with a Dimebag solo as well, but from a later album. The solo on ‘Flood’s, off of The Great Southern Trendkill is my all time favorite. Paul and I recently visited the grave site of Dimebag and Vinnie while we were playing a show in Arlington, and it was heavy, man.
MER: What have been some of your favorite memories since forming the band in 2018?
KYLE: Oh we have so much fun on the road. There is a lot we can’t really tell you….Anytime an impromptu dance party has broken out. Always my favorite. That went down last time we were in Jersey.
PAUL: The best part of it for me is the people and the bands that we get to meet and build friendships with. We’ve definitely gotten to see and do some cool stuff, but I think it’s the company that we’re keeping when we do it that makes the difference for us.
KYLE: That and getting to connect with old friends that we haven’t seen in a while. As you get older, your friends and family spread out and it becomes harder to stay in touch. Because we play all over the US, we get to see so many of our old buddies and bring them into the circle. That’s been really amazing.
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