Review Summary: Catacombs is an album that sounds as though it’s a battle between ballad and heavy rock
I’m going to put my cards on the table here and say that Like a Storm’s latest album is hands down one of the best albums of this year.
Like a Storm’s (Three brothers – Chris, Matt, and Kent Brooks with Zach Wood on drums) latest release Catacombs is the bands third studio album and follow up to their 2015 release Awaken the Fire.
Like a Storm are currently doing the festival circuit while promoting this album and it’s pretty evident from first listen that the band have succeeded in their goal which was to not only produce a great album, but one that captures their live energy and presence on stage.
This album is emotional both musically and lyrically but at its core it’s very much a balls to the wall hard rock album but with a twist. The twist being the use of a digeridoo within the mix and these New Zealand rockers implement this Aboriginal wind instrument in such a way that the album almost has an alt-electronica feel about it. Also, it’s not done to death either, and certainly not to the point that you will now refer to them as “that didgeridoo rock band”. It’s dark and it’s certainly the heaviest album this band have done to date.
Admittedly going into this album with the first few tracks being of such high quality my fear was this album would be weighted towards the front but I’m happy to say I was wrong. Every song is a strong as the last.
Lyrically the band delve emphatically into the darkness of negative human emotions and the feelings of seclusion from modern society. This is where the album title Catacombs has come from, it’s from keeping feelings and emotions buried inside or in this case the Catacombs of one’s mind.
As well as this album being very heavy, it’s also edgy with its crunching guitar riffs and chest pounding bass beats. Their current influences which are Gojira and Alter Bridge are evident here.
Their use of clean guitar tones layer overdriven riffs and it adds innocents to the furiosity and its all masterfully produced.
On the surface nobody would blame you for thinking this is another band like Breaking Benjamin, Bring Me the Horizon or Linkin Park until you really give this album some attention.
The Devil Inside was the first track to drop from this album and it does remind me of later Chevelle albums especially in its production, however, the digeridoo does define the bands identity right from the opening riff. Lyrically The Devil Inside is about the voices within your head confronting you with the things in life that are controlling you.
Out of Control along with Hole In My Heart has a very Bring Me The Horizon-esque feeling about them particularly with the hooks within the chorus to both these songs. If anything, this should open this band up to a whole new audience.
Complicated - Stitches & Scars has a harsh and pulsating bite to the rhythm guitar tone. Its melodic chorus makes it a worthy listen and probably one of my favourites songs.
Until the Day I Die has a claustrophobic feel to it throughout its verse which is in part due to Chris Wood’s vocals but then opens up into a melodic rock masterpiece.
Pure Evil is a good example of Zach Woods’ technical ability and he really shines as a he creates this frantic drum track beneath synth-effects and guitars, this helps create this furious undercurrent to the song which is the closer for the album.
Catacombs is an album that sounds as though it’s a battle between ballad and heavy rock but with no clear winner. The song writing is consistent all the way through and by putting this album on shuffle you won’t hit a duff song.
I haven’t been a huge fan of Like a Storm in the past however I certainly am now. Catacombs has great song writing, great production, and great lyrics and this is definitely one of my ‘go to’ albums for the summer.
