Vancouver-based psych-rock band Meltt have released their new album, Pathways.
A somewhat languid, deeply reflective piece, the album is the follow up to 2023’s Eternal Embers and a lengthy tour across North America. After extensive touring, the band settled down to work on Pathways, ending up with a set of 13 tracks.
“Pathways is about four men leaving their 20s and figuring out their paths and lives,” says bassist Ian Winkler. “There are moments of optimism and hope, but we also let some darkness in this time.”
According to guitarist James Porter: “There are so many things we experience individually, but when we get in the studio, it becomes clear that we’re on a journey together.” Vocalist Chris Smith added: “You’re getting older, you sense these changes. Things don’t always stay the same, and you start to sense time passing you by. But you will always try to figure out how to make the most of your life all the time.
“You go through hard times in life and gold onto those memories while trying to always find the bright in the darkness.”
These feelings make sense for the band after having recorded most of their previous album apart due to COVID, and after the huge amount of touring afterwards. The contrast of being cooped up and then suddenly never being at home, combined with the aforementioned transition of getting older, means that Pathways is deeply introspective and somewhat bittersweet, in a way that feels very natural.
The album feels quietly sad in a way that seems to view difficult feelings as an old friend rather than something immediately terrifying, with the knowledge that everything continues eventually. Sonically, it’s lovely; emotionally and lyrically, nobody would be blamed for finding themselves crying while the LP plays out.
