It’s Hutch’s last review of the year, and what a better way to finish that with a UK band, here’s what he thinks of the new album from the Catalysis lads…

It’s been a while since I crossed the path of Scots Catalysis. July 2020 to be exact when they released Connection Lost. I’ll admit that I wasn’t over enthused with it, citing the band’s wide range of influences as a diluting factor. Roll forward to 2022 and ahead of the band’s appearance at Bloodstock Festival, Innova arrived. I’ll admit to being more impressed although I noted in my review for another site that it wasn’t an EP that was going to appeal to all.  

So, some 16 months forward, and the Dundee quintet are back with Betrayer. Their second full-length album, it’s ten tracks that once again will prove a bit marmite in the tasting. There is no doubting the band’s effort or commitment. It’s well constructed and retains the band’s defining style. There are big riffs, huge breakdowns, and vocals that switch between guttural roars and soaring cleans. Underneath the carnage, the band have often focused on a range of lyrical subjects which are topical, cue climate change, xenophobia, racism, and the rape of the natural world. Here, as in the last two Eps, the band change direction and instead draw from personal experience to cover death, mental health, and loss.  

Betrayer opens with the pulsating blast that is Kingmaker, a single that has been around for a while now. It’s the ideal choice, grabbing the listener’s attention and pulling them close. Whilst there is a groove that underpins the band’s sound, they draw deep on modern metal influences and styles as well as the likes of Machine Head, Sylosis, Gojira. The vocals are an acquired taste, the combination of husked roars and machine gun style verbal delivery don’t do a lot for me, but they fit neatly with the overall big sound that the band bring.  

I’ll admit that once more, the staccato form of Panopticon doesn’t float my boat, with the vocals a little forced, but then, I’ll be honest and say that this style of shouty, forced singing isn’t my bag. If you can lift yourself away the cacophony, then there are good bits to pick out. Calum Rennie’s drumming is solid throughout, whilst Drew Cochrane’s lead work excels.  

Mea Culpa is another one that’s been out for a while, and it’s a punishing ball of aggression, piledriving forward with some thunderous riffs and the ferocious vocals of Colin MacGregor leading, A punishing slammer of a track, it sits neatly with the massive anthems that Catalysis produces.  

Betrayer is a big album. The production is decent, the band’s sound massive. Dig deep into Gallows and see the band swerve through almost death metal territory. As I said, the rap style back and forth doesn’t work for me, but overall, there is ample groove to get the dancing boots swinging. With all their songs relatively short, Betrayer doesn’t overstay its welcome. You may find it’s a bit of a head stomper, with an underlying groove that threatens to savage, albeit that it’s tempered by the odd blast of harmony and melody.  It may not be quite what I’m looking for, but this is an album that should appeal to many. I suggest you give it a go for yourself and risk having half your face blown off in the process.  

Catalysis Betrayer is out this Friday!!