Path of Totality

{{For|the 2011 album from Korn|The Path of Totality}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Path of Totality

| type = Studio

| artist = Tombs

| cover = Path of Totality album cover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Album cover artwork by Thomas Hooper

| released = June 7, 2011

| recorded = Elmwood Recording, Dallas, TX
January 2011

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Avant-garde metal, post-metal, black metal

| length = 57:31

| label = Relapse Records CD, LP
(RR7158)

| producer = Tombs

| prev_title = Fear Is The Weapon

| prev_year = 2010

| next_title = Savage Gold

| next_year = 2014

}}

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/path-of-totality-mw0002139936 |title=Tombs – Path of Totality |author=Ned Raggett |publisher=Allmusic |date=2011-06-07 |accessdate=2012-06-08}}

|rev2 = Blistering

|rev2Score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/23180/menuid/2/tempidx/4/link/1 |title=Tombs – Path of Totality (Relapse Records) |author=David E. Gehlke |publisher=Blistering |date=2011|accessdate=2012-06-09}}

|rev3 = Blogcritics

|rev3Score = (favorable){{cite web|url=http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-tombs-path-of-totality/ |title=Music Review: Tombs – Path Of Totality |author=Gutterdandy |publisher=Blogcritics |date=2011-06-08 |accessdate=2012-06-08}}

|rev4 = Metal Injection

|rev4Score = 9.1/10{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/cd-review-tombs-path-totality |title=CD Review: TOMBS – Path of Totality |author=Atanamar Sunyata |publisher=Metal Injection |date=June 7, 2011 |accessdate=April 23, 2021}}

|rev5 = The Quietus

|rev5score = (favorable){{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/06708-tombs-paths-of-totality-review |title=Reviews Tombs Path of Totality |author=Brad Sanders |publisher=The Quietus |date=2011-08-04 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}

}}

Path of Totality is the second full-length studio album from American metal band Tombs. It was released on June 7, 2011 through Relapse Records in CD, LP and digital download formats. It is the group's first album to be recorded by John Congleton.{{cite web|author=BBG|title=Tombs & A Storm of Light releasing new LPs, touring (MP3s, dates & an interview w/ Josh Graham) |work=Brooklyn Vegan|date=2011-04-29|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/04/tombs_a_storm_o.html|accessdate=2012-06-08}}

According to Mike Hill, the album title is a reference to the channel of darkness, or shadow, that is cast upon the earth in the moment when the moon obscures the sun during a solar eclipse.{{cite web|author=Lars Gotrich|title=Song Premiere: Tombs, 'Silent World'|work=NPR|date=2011-04-29|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/04/29/135809702/song-premiere-tombs-silent-world|accessdate=2012-06-08}} Concerning the lyrics, Mike Hill commented: "The lyrics are less personal, in that they have nothing to do with my personal experiences or any kind of internal narrative. The new record deals more with reflections on death, endings and the sort of existential cynicism that can easily creep into your consciousness living in a world where there seems be an incredible level of detachment."{{cite web |author=Philip Eisenhauer |title=Interview : TOMBS – Exclusive Winter 2010 Studio Report |work=MindOverMetal.org |date=2010-12-20 |url=http://www.mindovermetal.org/interview-tombs-exclusive-winter-2010-studio-report/ |accessdate=2012-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323102821/http://www.mindovermetal.org/interview-tombs-exclusive-winter-2010-studio-report/ |archive-date=2012-03-23 |url-status=dead }}

Decibel Magazine ranked Path of Totality number one in their Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2011 list.{{cite web|author=BBG|title=Decibel Magazine's Top 40 of 2011|work=Brooklyn Vegan|date=2011-11-27 |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/11/decibel_magazin.html|accessdate= 2012-06-08}}