Catalyst Symphony – The Light Inside

Catalyst Symphony
The Light Inside
Out: 02. May 2^nd, 2025
Playing time: 16:46

Catalyst Symphony create dramatically optimistic symphonic metal, for fighting the battles that truly matter.

The result is a basis of high-energy melodic metal, blended with the richness and depth of prog, the intimacy and drama of opera, the vibrancy of Celtic folk, and the epic scope of soundtracks.

The press release sounds exciting. The somewhat more factual description also sounds interesting. The music is recommended for fans of Iron Maiden, Nightwish, Dream Theater or Blind Guardian. But who are Catalyst Symphony? In 2024, the band received funding from Creative Scotland, a public organisation that supports the arts, film and creative sector in Scotland. However, the band from Glasgow was founded a few years earlier, presumably in the summer of 2022, and their debut EP ‘The Light Inside’ was released in May of this year.

After a short string introduction, we hear hard drumming, guitar melodies and keyboards on ‘Eden’. Wiktoria Wizner’s vocals sound very pleasant. She mainly sings in the mid-range. Of course, she also masters the high pitches very cleanly. ‘Nova’ is characterised by heavy guitar riffs and forward pounding drums. There are melodic hook lines again and again. A beautiful violin melody can be heard. Wiktoria lets her voice resound in coloratura soprano at times. The acoustic instruments at the beginning of ‘Salvation’ provide a strong Folk-Rock edge. Even if it gets a little heavier in between, the instrumentation is toned down during the seductive vocals. A calm song that sounds ballad-like at times but is repeatedly spiced up with tempo intensifications. There is also a beautiful guitar solo backed by keyboard tapestries. And Wiktoria once again shows the full range of her vocal skills here. For me, this is the best song on the EP.

OK, Catalyst Symphony are not reinventing Symphonic Metal. But they play it masterfully. Instrumental power interwoven with many epic passages. Folk elements are added again and again. But the most impressive aspect of this EP is Wiktoria Wizner’s outstanding vocal performance.

Catalyst Symphony – Nova (2022 Demo): https://youtu.be/hr8rr5iXjeo?si=Nq3s-HbGNV8aFAg8

Lineup:

Wiktoria Wizner – Lead, Backing Vocals
Christopher Armstrong – Guitars, Backing Vocals on track 1
Tamara Jordan – Bass
Darren Spence – Drums, Backing Vocals on track 1
Maya MacAdam – Violin, Viola, Piano, Synth, Harp on track 3, Backing Vocals on tracks 1 and2

Track list:

• Eden
• Nova
• Salvation