CD Review: Catamenia - The Rewritten Chapters

Written by Petra Whiteley Monday, 04 June 2012 10:35

Artist: Catamenia
Title: The Rewritten Chapters
Genre: Nordic Metal
Release Date: 27th April 2012
Label: Massacre Records

Album Review

CATAMENIA’s beginnings date in the year 1995 and follow a turbulent path of line-up changes so the only original member of this Finnish band left today is Riku Hopeakoski, it also follows a path of changes in genres – from Melodic Black Metal to today’s Nordic Metal, and of course you’ll find all three trends within – influences of Black Metal, Death Metal, Heavy and Epic Metal. ‘The Rewritten Chapters’ is a compilation album but not in the expected way. These tracks are not merely collected and re-mastered from the span of their catalogue but they went into studio to record them anew, building them up to match their contemporary sound. The entire atmosphere they build is made urgent by fast drumming, blast beat here and there; it hardly lets slow a little bit. Their fusion of genres comes off well and skilfully executed, even with some symphonic undertones added. The lyrical output might excuse it for some to call it Gothic Metal, but that’s not here that much musically.

The vocals are seldom clean, which is interesting with when they play more Heavy Metal/Power Metal focused pieces. There’s even a surprise of BON JOVI cover ‘Born To Be My Baby’, off with the original sugariness and of to the kick ass metal territory! Best moments were ‘The Day When the Sun Faded Away’ - epic song where the clean vocals bring in a great contrast. ‘My Blood Stained Path’ which has the aforementioned symphonic elements which in no way dominate the music but underline it with atmosphere, the song as intense and dark and even cinematic. The new line-up feels to have forged a good union to blast out some good Nordic Metal to a good deal of satisfaction as the whole album is not only a reconnection with the past, but it also feels very “present”. It’s certainly recommended to new listeners who want to find out what CATAMENIA is about, but their fans will enjoy the release as it’s not just a new coat on the old songs that they already have – though of course the die-hards would get it either way.


Tracklist

01. Hollow Out – ChaosBorn
02. Blackmension
03. Alive..Cold...Dead!
04. Cavalcade
05. Passing Moment of Twilight Time
06. The Day When The Sun Faded Away
07. My Blood Stained Path
08. Post Mortem
09. Morning Crimson
10. Eskhata
11. Coldbound
12. Lost In Bitternes
13. Pimeä Yö
14. Kuolon Tanssi
15. Born To Be My Baby (Bon Jovi Cover)


Line-up

Riku Hopeakoski – Guitars
Juha-Matti Pertjunen – Vocals
Mikko Hepo-oja – Bass
Sauli Jauhiainen – Guitars
Toni Qvick – Drums
Jussi Sauvola – Keyboards


Websites

http://www.catamenia.net/ / http://www.myspace.com/catameniaband


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 7
Total: 7 / 10