Shadowpath is a metal band from Switzerland that plays a mixture of different styles, mainly using symphonic, melodic death and progressive elements. The band’s line-up underwent a few changes over the past years, mainly due to the circumstances many younger adults experience in this phase of life: jobs change, families grow, plans grow. So back from the original founding days, there are today still Samuel Baumann (drums), Amos Zürcher (bass guitar) and Philipp Bohny (keyboards, growl and backing vocals) remaining; the guitars are played by Stefano Riario and Simone Christinat is the lead singer. All members come from very different musical and professional backgrounds: Sam (explosives expert) loves the wilderness and runs a small whiskey club. Stefano (engineer) is a huge science fiction-fan and retro gamer. Amos (web designer) does nature photography and hikes a lot in the alps, while Simone (nurse) promotes an own enterprise and loves to travel and Philipp (M.D.) spends most of his free time with his wife and kids, does close-up magic whenever he can and cooks vegetarian food.
The band’s history basically began in late 2005 with Philipp founding the rock band Spellbound in Berne. Things changed quickly in a more metal direction and Sam, Amos and then-singer Karin were invited to rehearsal sessions. What followed, was a lot of fun, heavy work, creative intensity and the recording of a few demo songs. A handful of first gigs (i.a. with King Dean and Royal Demolition) went really exciting and got very positive echoes. The band then worked with a variety of inspiring musicians, in particular Dominique (now Deadline X), who not only recorded a couple of amazing tracks during that period, but also played several concerts with Shadowpath (i.a. with Lunatica), or the collaboration with chilean guest guitarist Pierre. Shadowpath went on a small concept tour through different swiss locations (with Deep sun, Mind Patrol, Under my Skin etc.), after which a major project arose as the band decided to finally record their debut studio album – “Rumours of a Coming Dawn” was recorded with Gisselle (Ex-Confess) and mixed at SOS Basement Rec., then mastered at echochamber in Zürich and released in 2017. With support of amuse.io from Stockholm, the album got distributed to the usual digital online platforms and received incredibly positive Feedbacks with various reviewers even comparing their music to bands like Opeth and Nightwish. After an obvious time-out of Phil due to the births of his children, Shadowpath also returned to play live shows in 2018, more focused than ever, full of energy, with already loads of new creative ideas and singer Simone (Ex-Elis, Ex-Felony, Ex-Legenda Aurea), that will lead into a next album!
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
We chose a band name, that we felt transferred a strong emotional and instantly accessible image. Also we wanted to symbolize in it the different aspects of our musical style, from the lyrical and fragile parts all to the heavy death metal moments: a journey through a miraculous landscape, a wandering through the mists, a path through the shadows itself being a symbol of life, that connects places, moments in life, or people.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Shadowpath’s home originally is Berne, the capital of Switzerland. There is a significant metal scene in that wider region of the country with many promising smaller bands arising (Nihilo, In Oceans Deep etc.) and a devoted fan culture. More well known examples from various metal/rock genres are Lunatica, Krokus, or of course the mighty Eluveitie.
4. How would you describe your style?
It’s difficult to put Shadowpath’s music into a specific genre, that’s probably why in reviews our debut album has been labeled all from Symphonic Rock to Death Metal by the different writers. And honestly, we don’t think too much about the classification, since the songs Shadowpath plays come right from the heart and reflect themselves all the various musical styles they are shaped by.
Our sound variety includes influences from symphonic, progressive, death, gothic and power metal, though commonly usual genre boundaries have never played an essential role for them. The unconditional songwriting weaves fascinating acoustic dreams and creates a melodic sweet, melancholy, gloomy, yet uncompromisingly thundering world…– always accompanied by subtle, intense lyrics full of emotional expression, that glistens like a gentle silver star in the sky of a cold december’s night.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
We did a first 10 songs demo (“Into the Shadows”) in the first phase of the band and then another one (“Dissipating Flows”) around 2010 before we decided to record our professional studio debut “Rumours of a Coming Dawn”. The record is basically a story consisting of 8 chapters; we wouldn’t go as far as to name it a very consistent concept album, but the songs follow a string of events. Some of the tracks have an autobiographic aspect (e.g. Deny me, or Beta), but most of them tell metaphors about life in general. We’d like to leave it to the imagination of the listeners to explore, what images develop in their minds while listening to the songs. But in all the sometimes melancholic and gloomy lyrics, there is always a decisive element of hope, the spark in the night, the sunbeam brightening the cemetary on the albums cover, this “heavenly promise, that survives in our hands” as named in the final verse of Beta.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yes! Although you never know, where the journey will take you on a longer term, we have very clear ideas and Philipp is currently working on the songs for the next Shadowpath album. The writing and arrangement process will probably take until end of the year, then we plan to head to the studio again later. Without telling too much, we can already say: it’s going to be a really special release, continuing right where “Rumours of a Coming Dawn” ends…– but different!
7. How about planning shows and touring, have anything planned out?
After a break of one year due to various family time-outs Shadowpath started to play live again 2018, doing shows in Thun, the famous Met-Bar in Lenzburg (together with Deep Sun and Elyria), Spiez (with Nidhoeggr) and other places. There are currently quite big plans in the making for next year, but it’s too early to do specific announcements – please check regularly on our facebook page and website, we’ll let you all know more details as soon as we can. It’s gonna be great!
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
See question 7.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Please listen to our music anytime on iTunes, Spotify, Deezer etc. and purchase the album “Rumours of a Coming Dawn” physically or digitally on our website www.shadowpath.ch , our facebook-page or in selected good record stores ( www.cede.ch , www.klangstudio.ch etc.). Thanks so much!!
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
How a reviewer once put it: “One of those encounters which certainly makes a strong impression first time around but grows in potency and pleasure as subsequent ventures into his depths reveals the true imagination and craft at its heart.”
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