Album Review: Light – The Path

By Nick Leonardi on January 12, 2023

“The Path” by Toulouse, France-based group Light is an orchestral progressive/alternative rock album that showcases the band’s ability to blend the complexity and technicality of progressive rock with the grandeur and emotional depth of orchestral music.

The album opens with an epic 14-minute “Seekness,” a track that sets the tone for the rest of the album with its blend of heavy guitar riffs, intricate keyboard parts, and soaring orchestral arrangements. The band’s use of dynamics is particularly impressive, as they seamlessly transition from crushingly heavy sections to more melodic and introspective passages.

Throughout the 15-track record, Light feature plethora of short interlude-type of segments that serve as a good glue between the centerpieces. One of the standout tracks on the album is another prog epic in the shape of “Dive,” which features a combination of tension-building and emotive strings that creates a truly epic and cinematic sound. The band’s use of woodwinds and brass adds a layer of complexity and depth to the music that is truly impressive.

The production on “The Path” is top-notch, with each instrument given space to breathe and shine. The band’s use of orchestral elements also adds a level of grandeur and emotional depth that is unmatched by most bands of the same genre orientation.

Overall, “The Path” is an outstanding album that showcases Light’s mastery of the orchestral progressive/alternative rock genre. It is a must-listen for fans of both progressive rock and orchestral music, and anyone looking for an intellectually stimulating and emotionally powerful listening experience. The band’s ability to blend the two genres together in a cohesive and enjoyable manner is truly impressive.

The Path is available from Bandcamp here.