We Are The Catalyst - Elevation - review
We Are The Catalyst - Elevation - review
Tracklist
01. Delusion02. 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]
A review by
Susan July 19, 2016
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.
Comments
Comments:
9
Visited by
341 users
 Posts: 5102 |
Posts: 5102
Listened to the extracts on their website ... and preordered :-)
----  Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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 Posts: 11983 |
Posts: 11983
I want this album so much! Only listened to one song and loved it. They do catchy without being cheesy.
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 Posts: 1122 |
Posts: 1122
Out in September? You gave us a read a bit too early I think 
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 Posts: 7937 |
Posts: 7937
I've been redirected from their facebook page directly to bandcamp. Indeed, sounds fantastic and crushing. Goes into my checklist.
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 Posts: 5289 |
Posts: 5289
Great review young lady  Sounds like they have improved since their debut record - an album which I like. Can't wait to hear this one.
---- rekt
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| Posts: 5102 |
Posts: 5102
Received my copy yesterday. Can't wait to listen to the whole album.
---- Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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 Posts: 6941 |
Posts: 6941 Written by GT on 01.09.2016 at 12:09 Please let me know what you think! The album is proving so have some great staying power with me so far.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| Posts: 5102 |
Posts: 5102 Written by Susan on 01.09.2016 at 19:12 Just had the first full listen of it ... my thoughts are, that your review is spot on! I'm pretty sure that I'll like the album even more the more I listen to it
---- Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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