Genre-bending Swedish outfit AMARANTHE are upping their game big time with the follow-up to the incredible “Manifest” (2020). Leaning more into electronic music with a healthy dose of techno beats, the six-piece are serving up an idiosyncratic album infused with heaviness and melodies aplenty. The aptly titled “The Catalyst” will be out on February 23rd, 2024, via Nuclear Blast Records.
So, what to expect from “The Catalyst”? Well, my initial impression was that it sounds like “PvP” in album format (for the most part, anyway). I think doing that single in 2021 for Sweden’s national E-sports team opened the proverbial floodgates of creativity for Olof Mörck and Elize Ryd and so they went in that direction, writing songs that are as bouncy and danceable as they are heavy and headbang-worthy. On the other hand, AMARANTHE have never really shied away from trying out new stuff and broadening their musical horizons and that is exactly what they did with this album. This, in turn, ties into the title, “The Catalyst,” as their mentality of always experimenting and messing around has led them to this moment in time and this bunch of songs.
Recent singles “Insatiable” and “Re-Vision” are good album previews as many of the tracks follow a similar formula of speedy melodies, catchy choruses, contrasting vocals, and electro overtones. As such, “Liberated” boasts some sharp guitars, techno beats, an off-kilter chorus, and a melodic solo, “Interference” rides high on some fast-paced verses, electronic overlays, impressive vocals from Mikael Sehlin (ENGEL), and overall incredible energy, while “Resistance,” despite having the most upbeat and dance-friendly chorus on the album, is also quite a hard-hitting number. Tracks like these really showcase this harder and heavier side of AMARANTHE proving that the Swedish unit has the chops to play in the big leagues. Moreover, there’s something about the way the vocals come across on this album, as for the most part the three of them contrast and juxtapose more than harmonize (like on earlier material) which gives a certain sense of aggression and distortion to the overall sound design. This is especially true of Mikael Sehlin’s presence on the album as he can do more types of harsh vocals that add weight and help expand the soundscape. Nils Molin (DYNAZTY) is also showing more of his harsher/grittier tones on these tracks that complement his otherwise beautiful clean vocals and higher notes and I have to admit it’s nice to hear him flex his vocal chords a bit more; all the while Elize Ryd’s does her best to keep the balance being melodic and lush.
Now, AMARANTHE being AMARANTHE also offer some more melodic and approachable tunes on this record and, in this respect, “Ecstasy” is the ultimate party track, with some clashing vocals, chugging rhythms, and an overall feel-good vibe. The title track has the most melodic and buoyant chorus they have written in a long while which contrasts with the speedier melodies in the verses. This is a vocally driven track and it’s an absolute gem. The first single released, “Damnation Flame,” is not just their most theatrical track but also their most symphonic one yet as a lot is happening in the background that makes me think a full album of orchestrated tracks wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The poppy “Find Life” gave me anxiety when it was released in October 2022 because I thought they would pull another “Maximalism” with just Nils and Elize sharing vocals duties, but it actually works well as an album closer as it winds things down nicely. As a bonus track, we are treated to a cover of ROXETTE’s “Fading Like a Flower” which isn’t improved by the AMARANTHE sound (like their POWERWOLF or SABATON covers) as the harsh vocals don’t really suit the story and vibe.
There are three more tracks I need to mention before concluding this review, and these are also the most emotionally charged tracks on the album. Single “Outer Dimensions” is soft and wistful but with a beautiful cadence to the vocal melodies and a radiant ambiance that elevate it to the stratosphere. As per usual, Nils and Elize harmonize well together and if this song doesn’t prove their musical chemistry, I don’t know what will. Piano-driven “Stay a Little While” is placed smack in the middle of the album and slows things down with some subtle percussions and orchestrations, while the vocals harmonize and intertwine wonderfully (think back to “Crystalline”). It’s a delicate yet powerful track, just like the stories we all think about when reading the title. Finally, there is “Breaking the Waves,” which has a fuller sound with idiosyncratic drums, aggressive guitars, and passionate vocals that give way to a piano moment that leads seamlessly into a great guitar section and finishes with a great buildup to the final chorus. Ah, goosebumps assured!
I went into this album thinking that it could easily top “Manifest” but whereas the 2020 outing is incredibly melodic and flows smoothly from song to song, “The Catalyst” is a different beast altogether. It is heavy, distorted, and fast-paced with pockets of melancholy and emotions, boasting some of the best songs that they have ever written alongside some interesting experimentation – some that work incredibly well and some that don’t work as well. So, if you were expecting “Manifest” part 2, you might be a bit disappointed. Nonetheless, “The Catalyst” pushes boundaries, it’s theatrical, musically adventurous, and undeniably AMARANTHE as the band showcase a different facet of their versatile and unique style by putting forth a heavier soundscape skillfully disguised in hooky melodies that invite to dancing and/or headbanging.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- The Catalyst
- Insatiable
- Damnation Flame
- Liberated
- Re-Vision
- Interference
- Stay a Little While
- Ecstasy
- Breaking the Waves
- Outer Dimensions
- Resistance
- Find Life
- Fading Like a Flower (Roxette cover)
Lineup
Elize Ryd | vocals
Nils Molin | vocals
Mikael Sehlin | growls
Olof Mörck | guitars, keyboards
Johan Andreassen | bass
Morten Løwe Sørensen | drums
Label
Nuclear Blast Records
