Album Review: Catalyst - A Different Painting For A New World
Reviewed by Sam Jones
I’m not that familiar with many technical death metal bands within France, if this is the case then Catalyst are a grand exception. Formed in 2016 out of Metz, Catalyst got things out of the gate very early on, seeing the release of their debut EP before the year was even out. Things went quiet for the band however, but only to see the release of their first studio record in 2019, signed on to Great Dane Records at the time, The Great Purpose Of The Lords. This album received novel acclaim and, until this record, the band once again went radio silent. Now, another three years later and a record deal signing Catalyst on to Non Serviam Records, the band seek to release A Different Painting For A New World. I was pretty curious to see what this album could boast as I haven’t checked out many technical releases this year, but I was willing to give Catalyst an opportunity.
I always appreciate a band who will open up their record in the same vein as they would so do at a live show of theirs. Catalyst are no different to that respect, as a small but powerful introductory track attires the oncoming album with horns, Egyptian aesthetics and this gradually building sense of foreboding power. The band soon display an extraordinary declaration of who they are and what fans may come to continuously receive from this record, roaring into our ears amidst a cavalcade of blast beats, bass drums and intricate guitar work. It’s actually striking how much power manages to flow out from the band’s performance considering this is deemed a work of technical death metal; the technical element is absolutely there but the band have ensured it’s not the sole element that will ensnare us. The band have remembered their record needs to also boast a sound that can go toe-to-toe with any conventional death metal release and, you feel that might flow with ease as if the band were merely breathing, their innate power is as natural to them as the dawn follows dusk.
Most of all I appreciated how the band keep their technical element in reserve for when it would either be most required or most profound amidst their songwriting. The guitar work, from the first few songs alone, demonstrates the band’s ability to play with keen ability and yet it never feels like they’re feeling the need to pander to outright guitar wizardry at all times in order for you to maintain your attention. As mentioned prior, the band put as much emphasis into songwriting and the general feeling their sound produces than simply showing what their technical aspect can deliver. I think it’s for this reason why I’ve only continued to lean away from most technical death metal acts, but Catalyst are a wondrous exception that showcases what can happen when tech death is played and written with the best intentions. There are moments where the music slows down, it becomes bouncy and you can feel yourself moving alongside it; there was even an Iron Maiden-styled segment in “The Last Warning” which really surprised me yet blended effortlessly within the songwriting on show. But, most of all, I enjoyed the guitar work here because it felt so natural to Catalyst’s sound; it doesn’t come across as if they’ve merely inserted some wildly technical sections haphazardly for their own sake. Each turn and new piece the riffs and solos deliver unto us feels deliberate and right for the moment they find themselves included within. It makes Catalyst’s sound all the more organic, as if nothing else would work in such a soundscape.
If there’s there anything to be said regarding this album, whether from the outset or further within its running, it’s that the bass manages to hit you head on and with little regard as per your condition during your listen. It’s not simply the bass guitar itself however, the bass drums feel to have been tuned with such a prominent and thick resonance that it’s utterly impossible to claw your attention away from their thunderous rolls. The blast beats here are tremendous, for when they’re going full bore on us, the level of power we derive from them is astonishing. I think, if people didn’t know these were technical death metal, they would presume Catalyst were just an ordinary extreme metal act. The drumming is prominent in how it’s situated within the mix too, it doesn’t hide away to let the riffs and soloing dominate the spotlight; the drumming is right in your face and to dampen the performance here merely because the drums aren’t utilising the technical element all that much would be a disservice on the blistering power they impart.
Often in a technical death metal work the vocals are rather one note; you know what to expect and thus enjoy what they have to offer. The dual-delivery in Catalyst’s case is how you can stray from the vocal norm of this extreme style and still retain vast swathes of might and openly surprise your audience with something they may genuinely not expect. The aggressive form is what I expected to get for the full thing so imagine my delight when I begin hearing not only a cleaner delivery come into play as an established force throughout the record, but a cleaner vocal performance that lends an ethereal and soaring vibe to the band’s sound. Not many tech death bands can sport a diverse array of responses to their sound, and it was a joy to see how their dual-vocal style changed up the songwriting and feeling of whatever track they were playing at the time. It enables us to relax and have confidence in Catalyst’s prowess for unpredictability.
In conclusion, Catalyst’s A Different Painting For A New World is an album that manages to provide everything we would expect from a tech death band whilst simultaneously separating itself from the swathe of tech death bands that we see these days. Notably sporting some fairly lengthy tracks upwards of 10/11 minutes long in places, Catalyst are never boring nor does our attention wane at any moment. I fervently appreciate how the band’s priority was on the overall songwriting and their insistence on ensuring this was as prevalent a death metal record than it is including the technical side of things. The band aren’t showing off when their technicality bleeds into the songwriting, it’s a natural piece of their sound that doesn’t at any point feel out of place and it’s a real adventure to listen, discover and explore the band’s unfolding capacity to play and envelop us throughout their time here. It’s a longer than usual album but I would still firmly recommend this record if you wanted some well written and performed technical death metal. A great listen to be had for sure.
