Catch 22 - Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution |
Published September 26 2008
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| Genre | Power/Thrash Metal |
T.J. Berry
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Vocals
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| Tracks | 22 |
T.J. Berry
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Guitar
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| Runningtime | 84 Min. |
Jess Forrest
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Guitar
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| Label | Metal On Metal Records |
Hank Ramage
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Bass
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| Release | 18 April 2008 |
Joe Bailey
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Drums
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| Country | USA |
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Keyboard
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| Similar artists | Iced Earth, Phantom, Imagika | ||
Time reveals all, and Catch 22 have been raging for over 15 years. They have toughed it out, anihilating their local competition. They have consistently hammered out some thrashing music, crawling through the muck and mire, rising above, and decisively struggling to gain more recognition. After years of diligence, they release their crowning achievement: a double dose of Evilution/Devilution.
Even though the inevitable comparisons to Iced Earth are obvious, like Imagika, these soulreapers have forged their own fire and fury, brandishing their influences. Honor and horns are raised for Savatage, King Diamond, Sabbath, Metallica, and more, both lyrically, and in the all encompassing doomsday scenario. I also detect some allusion to Phantom (US) as T.J. Berry's tone emulates Falcon Eddie, especially on the rippin' cut "Cyberchrist". His range is not as accomplished as Matt Barlow, but his wicked pitch possesses a strain of consistency. The nationalistic "Greed" even includes a few gruff growls, swimming with wit and shock.
As the predominant pulse is permeated with burnt offerings, and some wicked war song hums, Catch 22 effectively spiral away into a vehement vertigo, achieving a caustic bite into the seasoned, wet flesh of metal. There are some filler reversions, but the cohesiveness of the concept and flow, bind the blood and bone of this dark construction.
This double disc endeavor includes all original tracks intended for the 2007 Soulreaper V.1 album. The songs were reworked to create 22 accosted pieces of primal aggression, explicating the whole concept. The second CD brings the balance to a boil with the "Cycle Of The Sick" Trilogy.
The guitar tandem might of T.J. & Jess is suggestively pugilstic, killing, flooring the listener with their surprisingly intense iniative. Joe's drums spit with that Richard Christy tenacity. The production is damned good for an independent release.
If you find yourself caught up in a catch 22 circumstance, having been less than impressed with new Iced Earth, if you respect true American Metal played with feverish passion, or if you yearn for something less promulgated, but definitely worth the investment, embrace the revolution of these devilish souls, damned for all time.
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Performance
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Originality
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Production
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Vocals
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Songwriting
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7 |
7 |
7,5 |
7,5 |
8 |
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Summary
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7,5 chalices of 10 - Michael the MettleAngel |
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