You have to hand it to Amaranthe. When they debuted in 2009 as a three- headed pop-metal singing machine, they were an acquired taste, but they’ve won a legion of fans by deftly sticking to a winning formula with enough reinvention to keep their
music fresh. 2020’s Manifest pushed their boundaries towards a heavier, djentier sound, and on their seventh album Amaranthe have glided into yet another new guise that promises to be “more adventurous than ever”.
However, where Manifest paid dividends with its thrilling bombast, The Catalyst is surprisingly restrained. Granted, there are moments when it showcases its dramatic edge with aplomb. Damnation Flame is one instance, drawing on harpsichord and orchestral flourishes for an exhilarating ride. Likewise, Breaking The Waves, an ethereal and undulating anthem supercharged by synth and classical motifs, is a superb demonstration of the band’s capability to blend electronics and layered instrumentation with clean and harsh vocals. But rather than a continuous thread, the theatrical elements are sporadic, leaving some of the album to retreat into its comfort zone of Eurovision-friendly power metal.
