Catalyst Crime – Catalyst Crime

Catalyst Crime
Catalyst Crime
Massacre Records
October 22, 2021
Playing time: 50:35

It is a cinematic metal journey that covers a wide spectrum of genre-defying sounds and emotions, ranging from symphonic metal to death metal to progressive metal and back.

That’s what the press info says. Catalyst Crime are still a young band. But with experienced musicians. Gerit Lamm, for example, sat behind the battery of Xandria for many years. And Zoë Marie Federoff (ex-Insatia) shows that she doesn’t only cut a fine figure as a pool girl in the 70000tons of Metal. She can show that she is also a very good singer. The line-up is completed by the singer’s father Matt Federoff on bass as well as other seasoned musicians from the USA and Canada. The band’s story began in 2017, when Gerrit and Zoë brought this project to life. The self-titled debut album was released in October. In the process, the band succeeded in inspiring renowned guest musicians to collaborate with them.

Oriental sounds, gradually more instruments are introduced, in “With Only The Sun As My Witness” an increase and decrease in volume can be heard. Not as bloodless as many an intro by other bands. But whether that justifies a length of more than two and a half minutes? Anyway, “Projection Of My Mind” is also introduced with its own intro (piano and epic choruses). But then the musicians really get going. Especially the drums are booming. And the singer shines with an excellent voice. Yes, even more. As if it was the easiest thing in the world, she changes to bitter death metal growls without any transition. Behind the shooting gallery, Gerit Lamm fires off true double bass attacks. The song is rounded off by very good guitar solos. For “Condemn Me To Chaos” the band produced a video clip with disturbing images. What was already noticeable in the opener can also be heard here, heavy riffs, driving drums. The refrain is extremely melodic and can be sung along quickly. After the chorus introduction, “Mother Dearest” sounds much more aggressive. Especially because the singer nags like a fury from the beginning (and also later). But of course the melodic vocal passages are not missing here either. Guitar solos? Of course. They also seem very aggressive here. “Twice Upon A Time” is a threatening midtempo rocker. Symphonic Power Metal at its best, that’s how you can describe “Cognitive Dissonance”. Here Zoë sings a duet with Jake E., the former frontman of Amaranthe. And not to forget Micki Richter (Leaves’ Eyes, Atrocity), who swings the axe here. By the way, his band colleague Thorsten Bauer can be heard on “Condemn Me To Chaos”. “Break Even” is one of the hardest songs on the album. True riff and double bass thunderstorms. In contrast to this is the catchy refrain. And that’s probably one of the band’s qualities, no matter how harsh or progressive the songs are, everyone can sing along to the catchy refrains straight away. With “Chasing The Ghost” the sextet allows themselves a little break. A ballad in which the fairy-like vocals are almost exclusively underpinned by keys and electric piano. The electronically amplified guitars and drums also join in later. But that was just the calm before the storm. “Nowhere Near Dead Yet” is a midtempo stomper par excellence. And once again the singer belts out her growls, which almost freeze the blood in your veins. In the straightforward Power Metal song “Without Anesthesia” the keyboards can be heard well again. Nevertheless, they don’t overwhelm the sound. They enrich it with many splashes of colour. “Not Even Once” already introduces the end. Again a Symphonic Metal highlight, again a thrilling refrain. What follows is the epic outro “One And Counting”. With sacred choirs and organ playing. Here the circle to the intro is closed.

It’s hard to believe how quickly the fifty minutes of the album are over. The songs are so exciting and varied. One is inclined to press the replay button again and again and play the album again. Rarely have I heard the interplay of ” The Beauty and the Beast” so convincingly. And both are perfectly represented in personal union by singer Zoë Marie Federoff. Producer Alex Krull (Leaves’ Eyes, Atrocity) has done an excellent job here. All other symphonic metal bands will have to measure themselves against this album debut by Catalyst Crime.

Catalyst Crime Condemn Me To Chaos: https://youtu.be/mH-ZfLM1ErQ

Album-Lineup:

Zoë Marie Federoff – Vocals
Christopher Zoupa – Guitars
Kaelen Sarakinis – Guitars
Matt Federoff – Bass
Jonah Weingarten – Keyboard
Gerit Lamm – Drums

Guests:

Jake E (CyHra, ex-Amaranthe): Gastvocals auf “Cognitive Dissonance”
Bill Hudson (I Am Morbid, NorthTale): Gitarre auf “Chasing The Ghost”
Harri Hytönen (Hammerhed, Kalmah): Gitarre auf “Mother Dearest”
Micki Richter (Atrocity, Leaves’ Eyes): Gitarre auf “Cognitive Dissonance”
Thorsten “Tosso” Bauer (Atrocity, Leaves’ Eyes): Gitarre auf “Condemn Me To Chaos”

Current Lineup

Zoë Marie Federoff – Vocals
Chëna Ohanele – Guitars
Kaelen Sarakinis – Guitars
Matt Federoff – Bass
Jonah Weingarten – Keyboard
Gerit Lamm – Drums

Track list:

• With Only The Sun As My Witness (Intro)
• Projection Of My Mind
• Condemn Me To Chaos
• Mother Dearest
• Twice Upon A Time
• Cognitive Dissonance
• Break Even
• Chasing The Ghost
• Nowhere Near Dead Yet
• Without Anesthesia
• Not Even Once
• One And Counting (Outro)