UMUR
"Both Ends of the Path" is the third full-length studio album by Finnish thrash metal act Airdash. The album was released through Ab Discophon in 1991. It´s the successor to "Hospital Hallucinations Take One" from 1989 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as lead guitarist Nirri has been replaced by Tommy Dolivo. The latter was a founding member of Airdash and played on their 1987 demo but left after that and doesn´t play on the first two studio albums. "Both Ends of the Path" would be the last album by Airdash as they disbanded in 1992.
While "Both Ends of the Path" is still thrash metal to some degree, Airdash have incorporated a lot of other elements from both funk, alternative rock, and heavy rock. Sometimes they sound closer in style to their fellow countrymen in Waltari, than they do to the sound on their own preceding releases. Airdash are undeniably a well playing act but the vocals by Juha Laine will probably be an aquired taste to some. Half shouting, half singing, and slightly melodic, but not really memorable. The same can be said about the instrumental part of the music which occasionally sounds really great and powerful, but other times seems to pursue something a bit more awkward. It´s not that it sounds uninspired it´s just that some of the alternative elements don´t really suit the music that well.
"Both Ends of the Path" is probably one of the more suiting album titles I´ve encountered given the fact that Airdash seem undecided if they want to play thrash metal or alternative rock/metal, and therefore the album ends up featuring material from both ends of the spectrum, but without an overall consistent sound and style. "Both Ends of the Path" is fortunately a well produced album, and that helps the mess of the songwriting be a little more bearable. Maybe a 3 star (60%) rating is in the high end, but it´s not all wrong either. I´d definitely take a listen to the two preceding releases before listening to this one though.
