Catalyst / Calm Murder

Catalyst / Calm Murder: Two Sides Of The Suicide KingTwo Sides Of The Suicide King (2005)
Engineer Records

Reviewer Rating: 1

Contributed by: Erin_JacksonErin Jackson
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 10th 2005Catalyst [Tracks 1-4] This side of the split CD begins with "Kiss You Goodbye" and all of the overblown metal theatrics you might expect. Heavy percussion and predictable guitar follows for the next two tracks on "Your Death" and "Same Shit Everyday." The final song, "This Heart Won't Heal On I.

Catalyst [Tracks 1-4]

This side of the split CD begins with "Kiss You Goodbye" and all of the overblown metal theatrics you might expect. Heavy percussion and predictable guitar follows for the next two tracks on "Your Death" and "Same Shit Everyday." The final song, "This Heart Won't Heal On Its Own," has a petulant tone and the plodding guitar drags the track to its conclusion at a pace that feels like pulling teeth. The poor construction and overwrought vocals make these tracks unable to stand up to repeated listening, making this side of the CD one that expires quickly.

Calm Murder [Tracks 5-8]

It's probably a bad thing when supposed hardcore/metalcore makes you giggle. That was the case with track 6, "This Is No Horror Movie And You're No Scream Queen." Vocalist Shaun Whitehead effects such an overdone, screamed track that he sounds like a dog with laryngitis. Also, on the fifth track, "These Hearts Don't Have Names," the combination of spoken-word and screamed lyrics results in a conversation that goes something like this: "the hearts all say / arrghghh rrrhgh / they know your secrets / rhh hu s hhh rrrgh." Coupled with the intense delivery, the result is amusing, which totally took me out of the mood I'm guessing the band was going for. Vocal delivery that plays with the percussion and the spoken elements on this side of the split CD aren't enough to save it from being typical screamcore. By the time you get to the last track, you'll have sufficiently "got the point," which is, as stated by Shaun, "ruuushhggg."

Overall, it's forgettable and unnecessary. Halfway-there hardcore that falls a measure short.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (August 4, 2005)

honestly i think the reviewer was little too harsh. this is very good quality music for being a 4 song "demo" i want to say but catalyst sure hasnt "fell short" of being metal. maybe if you came out one time when their playing around you and witness these monsters you would have a different review.calm.murder. they have to be a breed of their own. imagine have a nice pizza and then pouring salsa all over it. i mean its just madness at its own level. especially for only being a band for a short period of time compared to all these other bands out there. i think these guys pulled ahead.

Anonymous (August 4, 2005)

this cd really is'nt too bad...I actually like it..so this fucker here should go eat a dick

Anonymous (August 4, 2005)

This is Shaun from Calm.Murder. For a real evaluation of this cd without picking it up, go to either Catalyst or Calm.Murder on myspace and give us a listen. Engineer thought it was good enough to put out, i say give it an honest shot and see for yourselves. oh, and always remember Ruuhagga blarrrrrg!!!

Anonymous (May 10, 2005)

After that American Hi-Fi review... well... it's hard to take the reviewer seriously.

boldredletters (May 10, 2005)

This probably isn't that good. But then, the reviewer does have a boner for American Hi Fi.