Album Review: Catalysis – Betrayer (Self Released)

Catalysis, the 5-piece metal band from Dundee, Scotland, will release their second full-length album, ‘Betrayer’, on December 15th, 2023.

A band incapable of sitting still for to long, Catalysis are back and back with a bloody great big bang. Betrayer, their second full-length album, is a wonderful refinement of their heavy sound. With confidence at a high and with their talents fully exposed, Catalysis have eyes on bigger stages and even more attention coming their way. Things that are inarguable once this heavyweight head-banger of a release is heard.

Groovy, fast, and intense. It’s Kingmaker, and it’s a brazen start to the album. Catalysis combining elements of death, melo-death, thrash, speed, and groove metal into one amazing cacophony of heaviness.

The bar has been set, but bettering everything is a challenge Catalysis are more than up for. Continuing to kick all kinds of ass with the crunching garishness of Gone, the thrilling combo of stompy nastiness and massive melodies that comes with Endless, and the fiery fatalistic sound of The Bottom of the World. Catalysis are throwing out some very strong riffs, hefty drumbeats, and guttural vocals here.

The halfway point of the album coming via a blazing tornado of ferociousness called Panopticon. A neck-breaker and skull-crusher if ever there was one, but the colossal chorus is what’s really special here.

Mea Culpa has a fair bit more melody, but melody with Catalysis just enhances their metal sound, and this is an out and out head-banger with a vibrant guitar solo too. Before Gallows comes along with wicked intent, the groove of this track is like nothing else on this album, and it’s sure to be a favourite amongst the listener base, especially as it has a section where everyone gets to shout along.

Although no-one is going to be complaining about the fist-pumping and chest-beating vibe of Overlord or the blazing speed and fury of Never Unseen. Catalysis keeping things heavy as f**k right up to the very end. Which just so happens to be a bloody epic that is covered with a dark melodic sheen, but rampages in emphatic style when it comes to metal heaviness. After all, it’s the Catalysis way and they have raised the bar as far as their own output goes. Betrayer is a beast, and one that most will be returning to over and over again in the coming months.

Catalysis – Betrayer Track Listing:

1. Kingmaker
2. Gone
3. Endless
4. The Bottom of the World
5. Panopticon
6. Mea Culpa
7. Gallows
8. Overlord
9. Never Unseen
10. Another Version of the Truth

Links

Spotify | Bandcamp | Big Cartel | Website | Facebook | Instagram