ALBUM REVIEW: Ephemeral – We Are The Catalyst

Over the past couple of years, Swedish four-piece WE ARE THE CATALYST have been building a reputation for themselves in their home country with a diversely-influenced but unique combination of rock and alternative metal that is dark and inventive. Having already brought out two positively-received albums, 2014 debut Monuments, and 2016 follow-up Elevation, the band build on the solid musical and lyrical foundations they laid with those with third full-length release Ephemeral.

Over the course of 48-and-a-half minutes, containing 12 well-crafted tracks, the listener is taken on a thought-provoking, inspiring, and empowering journey of discovering, covering a broad range of topics that span the struggles, hopes, and dreams of humanity. This is effectively reflected through each song having at least one distinct element, resulting in the music constantly shifting gears, which is where the Gothenburg quartet’s talents really get to shine.

Opening number Over Pale Waters is a rather melodic affair, combining emotive vocals with catchy pop and gritty metal to great effect, and this is followed by the more hard-hitting Alone Against The World, which, with its anthemic choruses, underlying electronic instrumentals, and buzzing riffs, will surely become a staple of the collective’s live sets for years to come. Predators deals with lyrical content themed around decadence and blind faith with industrial-strength guitar playing and alluring vocal hooks, which is rather reminiscent of EVANESCENCE at their early 2000’s peak, whereas Where The Mountain Stands moves along at a much gentler pace, an atmospheric ballad that tugs at even the toughest of heartstrings.

The alternation of jagged intensity and softer, more relaxing fare is a key component of this release, firmly driving the sound forwards, and preventing the offering from becoming stale and identikit. One of the particular highlights is seventh track Innan Allt Faller, which sees the outfit take a creative risk by having all of the vocals sung in their mother tongue of Swedish, and even though the lyrics are difficult to understand for those who do not speak and read the language, frontwoman Cat Fey does a good job of conveying the emotions present with a strong, harmonic vocal delivery.

Overall, Ephemeral is a release that definitely prides itself on its accessibility, acting as a gateway to pop and metal for fans of one of those genres who usually wouldn’t touch the other with an eight-foot barge pole. Also, the album effectively showcases WE ARE THE CATALYST as a band who have become more and more comfortable with their place on the musical spectrum, and will surely see the four-piece gain more followers outside of their native Sweden, as well as catapulting them further into the rock and metal stratosphere.

Rating: 8/10

Ephemeral is out now via Ferocity Records. 

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