Pathogen are a metal band from Perth, Western Australia. As of 2006, they have been around for around 8 years, and have toured across Australia. They employ several differnt styles of metal which will become immediately recognisable as a "pathogen" style. Acoustic style of guitar, distorted power chords, trill notes, Michael's screaming vocals and Louis's pounding double kick drumming that follows with guitar riffs are all examples of Pathogen styling.

Many people first saw, and were immensly impressed by Pathogen when they played at a support act for Fear Factory during their Perth gig at Fremantle Metros on the 9th of December, 2001. They have before, and since played many local gigs and have supported international acts such as Opeth and Children of Bodom.

Before the release of their first album (Bloodline, 2005) they had been using Cain Cressal on vocals. He employed a lower, more guttural growel to his singing, as opposed to his replacement Michael Lenane, who employed a more higher pitched scream syle of vocals. Fans would deem to agree that Michaels higher pitched screaming were more suited to Pathogen than Cain's. These vocals are somewhat unique to Pathogen and metal in general.

Many people ask how Michael can scream at such a feverous pitch, which is supprisingly still understandable, without destroying his voice. Many fans have been known to go to a Pathogen gig, and lose their voices the next day (as well as any neck movement for at least 3 days from headbanding) from screaming at the top of their lungs and singing as Michael does. Compared to many styles of singing, Michael holds a high scream, and does so with passion. A lot of metal growels just growel with no passion, yet Michael seems to pull his screaming off with passion.

Aidan Barton and Glenn Dyson are the leading force behind Pathogen (be it as an uninformed fan's point of view here). Both are active in the recording and management of bands in the Perth (and possibly Western Australia) area. This is one of the reasons that the first full length Pathogen album took 8 years to be released, and was released with such brilliance of recording. Having 2 members in the band that are a driving force and are into recording and studio management, resulted in an album that was mixed and sounded simply international. This album could have been produced and mixed by a big record company in the US, but instead was made my Pathogen themselves, in Perth, Western Australia. The drums, guitar, vocals and bass are perfically mixed and everything sounds clear and clean. Credits to the guys from the band for pulling off a simply amazing sounding first album, with no help from a "seasoned" producer.

Louis Rando uses double kicks that follow the guitar riffs. His drum kit uses twin kicks (evident during show, where fans can see two huge kicks sticking out of his kit), and his drumming would be on par with any metal drummer. Double kicks pound out and often form a wall of sound. Louis essentually drums two parts, one being the double kicks, and one being the rest of the 'normal' drumming. Louis's drumming would be up there with some of the best drummers around.

On releasing the album, Pathogen had issues with their initual distributor. Due to a mix up, most of the albums that were printed were sent to the band, and not to stores. Fans were left to wonder why they could not purchase a Pathogen album at any store, when they were signed for distrubution with a major label. Subsiquent label change took place, and Pathogen should now be able to be purchased from most stores. As with most metal though, you'd have to know who they are to even purchase them.

As of around April 2006, Pathogen are in the studio recording an as yet unnamed new album. They are due to play a gig, which is billed as the return of Pathogen, at the end of May, 2006, and fans are hoping they play new tracks.

See below for a current lineup of Pathogen.

Michael Lenane - Vocals Aidan Barton- Guitars Glenn Dyson - Guitars Louis Rando - Drums Dave Sandstrom - Bass

Australian musicians