Catalysis - Into The Unknown

Ticks.............. Every............. Box................

I'm allowed to swear in these reviews right? Yeah? Cool. Holy fucking shit. So while sifting through all the awesome music that's on our review radar I was looking for something that would smack me in the teeth, then pick me up and make me almost break my neck grooving to and did I find it when I opened Catalysis's EP Into The Unknown? You bet I did.

The 5 piece Scottish wrecking crew based in Dundee have only been together since 2016, yet the 5 track EP is polished, professional and you could be mistaken in thinking this was a band with much more time served. Let's get in to it.

Into The Unknown opens on Coexistence, the first few bars of harmonized guitars gives way to a chunky, head nodding riff with bags of tone and attitude. A unique vocal comes through the mix with power and force giving the listener a metalcore masterclass. The song sets the tone for the whole EP, its well structured and each section of the song from verse to chorus to breakdown to solo flows and is exactly where it needs to be.

Run With The Hunted is a real showcase of a song, if this EP is the beginning of the bands journey then expect it to be a long, successful run (pun intended). The verse is powerful and catchy, the melodic middle 8 gives me an otherworldly feeling, like these guys have something else they can bring to the table, which I hope they do. Duel vocal melodies and harmonies power the song along at full tilt with enough bass cutting through to give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside. Riff after riff push the EP along supported by powerhouse drum fills and super solid beats.

I could analyze each and every verse, chorus and solo but there is no need. If you love your metalcore, like me, then you'll love this EP and you'll find yourself listening to it over and over and noticing something different time and time again, like the Machine Head esc harmonics in Codeine and the insanely subtle clean vocal melody on Transcend, once you pick it out it makes you smile on the inside while the song is still tearing your ear drums apart.

The EP ends strong on The Wrath of Lolth, the Demon Queen of Spiders and if there was any soundtrack for a game of D'n'D then this would be it. Brutal time signatures and guitar runs that give you the impression your running from your doom. Yes. Your doom!

I'm more than blown away with these guys and I can't wait till they venture down Yorkshire way so I can see what the live show has to offer. A solid, solid 9.5/10 from me!

Donk.