Pathology

Pathology emerged in 2006 as a savage American death metal outfit whose roster has undergone substantial turnover since its inception. Their ferocious style fuses grotesque shock visuals, hardcore elements, blastbeats, and signature gurgling vocals, elements that stood out on the well-received 2009 release Incisions of Perverse Debauchery. After inking a deal with Victory Records that same year, the group unveiled the concept album Legacy of the Ancients in 2010. By the arrival of Lords of Rephaim in 2013, a thread of classic death metal had been threaded into their approach, rendering the overall weight even more crushing; that trajectory intensified on later efforts and peaked with the self-titled 2017 album.

The band took shape in San Diego, California, when Dave Astor—original drummer for grindcore unit the Locust and death metal act Cattle Decapitation—assembled the project. Astor recruited vocalists Levi Fuselier and Matti Way, each an alum of storied California death metal band Disgorge, along with guitarist Tim Tiszczenko to complete the initial quartet.

Pathology swiftly cultivated local support in San Diego and issued their debut recording, the demo CD Surgically Hacked, only months after forming. Their first proper full-length, Incisions of Perverse Debauchery, surfaced in February 2008 via Grindhead Records. Shortly afterward Mason Gregory entered as second guitarist and vocalist, stepping in for Fuselier. A follow-up album, Age of Onset, arrived in June of the next year on Comatose Records.

Age of Onset drew the notice of Chicago-based hardcore and metal imprint Victory Records, although the group had already parted ways with vocalist Matti Way, whose short-term replacement Pascual Romero soon exited to allow Way’s return alongside new bassist Oscar Ramirez. Their third album, Legacy of the Ancients, appeared on Victory Records in July 2010. While touring with Nile late that year the band suffered a serious van crash that compelled them to abandon the remaining dates. The 2017 self-titled record earned praise as their most punishing to date, reflecting the subtle infusion of traditional death metal.

In 2011 Way departed once more and was succeeded by Jonathan Huber, formerly frontman of I Declare War. Tim Tiszczenko also stepped away temporarily, his spot filled by Kevin Schwartz and Stephen Parker, before returning in place of Parker to create a twin-guitar tandem with Schwartz. September 2011 saw the release of their fourth album, Awaken to the Suffering, on Victory Records.

Huber exited following 2012’s The Time of Great Purification. Way rejoined for touring duties and stayed for the subsequent four years, handling vocals on Lords of Rephaim (2013), Throne of Reign (2014), and Pathology (2017), by which point Tiszczenko had also left and guitarist Dan Richardson had taken over. The configuration of Astor, Richardson, singer Obie Flett, and bassist Ricky Jackson delivered Reborn to Kill in 2019.