Band:	We Are The Catalyst
Album:	Elevation
Style:	Alternative metal
Release date:	September 02, 2016
A review by:	Susan

01. Delusion
02. A Million Claws
03. Our Dark World
04. Open Door
05. Without Fear
06. One More Day
07. Alive
08. Askja
09. Home
10. Never Ending Night
11. Life Equals Pain
12. Open Door [single version]

Spoiler alert: it kicks ass. In fact, this is exactly how to present a sophomore album: Keep all the things we loved about the debut while showing marked improvement, growth, focus, and a few new ideas. We Are The Catalyst gave us a fun and energetic debut with 2014's Monuments; this year, they elevated their game significantly with this incredible new record.

While Monuments was a slightly-too-long collection of awesome songs, it lacked arc and variety. Elevation is a focused journey that leaves us wanting so much more. Songs are immediately distinct, while providing the necessary depth for repeated listening and new discoveries. The band shaved away some of the nu-metal influence in favor of a slightly more dark and mature take on alternative metal, and Cat's stunning voice is better than ever.

Everyone loves Cat Fey's voice, and she continues to shine here yet again. She is a star, giving us beauty, power, and passion in her own distinct and recognizable way. Perhaps it's Cat's voice, perhaps it's the band's compelling compositions and assured performances, or perhaps no one knows why, but We Are The Catalyst has always managed to sway many of us toward a more commercial side of metal where we wouldn't normally tread. Keeping our heads down, caps and sunglasses on, we hope to pass unnoticed through the gates of kvlt-dom into a slightly more accessible realm, mumbling something about how we don't normally like this stuff but We Are The Catalyst is damn good, so, fuck it.

Indeed. Elevation is a strong enough statement that we should all be able to now shed our disguises and enjoy this record openly. Each delicious melody will have many champions calling it their favorite track, while others will stand behind the album as one whole and intense work. The lyrics match the music: sometimes inspired and strong, while other times sad and tender.

The variety missing on Monuments is here in spades. Without actually straying from the band's sound, we're given a sweeping range of emotion and styles from heavy rockers (like "Askja") to dark bursts of power (like "A Million Claws") to gentle and sorrowful suspension (like the still-quite-robust "One More Day").

For fans of alternative metals, I'm recommending the hell out of this album.

Elevation is out September 2nd. Pre-order at http://www.wearethecatalystofficial.com.