The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
MAGNETIC METAL
Dundee’s Catalysis have had an exciting year, and all their hard work has led to a nomination for Best Metal act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. Rebecca Baird finds out more
Catalysis – it means the acceleration of a reaction. And that’s exactly what 2022 has brought for Dundee’s breakthrough metal band. Made up of Drew Cochrane, Calum Rennie, Col MacGregor, Sean Ramson and Pabs Edwards, Catalysis have been making music together for almost six years, but the past 12 months have been their most high-energy yet.
From fighting off competition in the Metal 2 The Masses competition last May and securing a coveted spot at massive metal festival Bloodstock, as well as releasing two back-to-back EPs in under a year, the band have gone from ‘aspiring’ to ‘established’ in record time.
Now that hard work has been clocked, and they are up for Best Metal act at the upcoming Scottish Alternative Music Awards.
“To be nominated is pretty amazing,” says lead guitarist Drew, as we meet in a frenetic wee practice room in Dundee’s hole-in-thewall DM Studios.
“Nobody told us we were in the running, we just got an email out of the blue one day!”
“And we’re in dead good company for it,” adds drummer Calum, referring to fellow nominees Ashenspire and Godeater, from Glasgow, and Dunfermline outfit Party Cannon.
For Catalysis – who formed in Dundee and still have a musical home in city venue Church – the nomination isn’t about gold stars, but recognition of the hard work and time they put in.
The whole outfit is grown-up and DIY, with the members writing songs, fitting in jam sessions and gigging around their home lives and 9-5s.
Even the recording and production is done ‘in-house’ by co-founder Drew, with only the mixing outsourced, meaning everything they put out is 100% ‘them’.
“It started off as a bit of a hobby, just Calum and myself getting together for a jam,” explains Drew.
“And then over time it’s become... well it sounds really cheesy, but it’s become a brotherhood. We all ultimately do it because of a love of music.
“We’re not necessarily trying to write something that’s in keeping with the latest thing in metal. We’re just writing what comes naturally to us, because we like it.”
That myriad of tastes in the band shines through in their music, which varies from the darkness-and-death-inspired Relicta to the “rebirth” record Innova. Although they cite their main influences as Chimera, Sylosis and Machine Head, they admit that in a genre which loves a prefix – everything from “death metal” to “folk metal” and even “glam metal” exists – their sound is hard to pin down.
“We try to just describe ourselves as a metal band,” laughs Drew.
“If we had to, we would probably say we’re somewhere between groove metal and thrash metal. But I think we bring more to the table than just being those things.”
Indeed, one thing they clearly bring to the table is a genuine passion for the genre – and their hometown.
As Dundee’s unofficial “metal dads” the band aren’t just committing to their own budding success. They’re keen to see young musicians in the city thrive too, and to help guide them on their way.
“I think the old adage ‘a rising tide raises all ships’ really applies here, right?” says Drew.
“Like if we’ve got a bit of momentum behind us, and so do some other bands, we can work together to make things better for the whole community.”
They’re not ones to rest on their laurels; if anything, the recognition from their SAMA nomination has only spurred them on more.
“The real key thing for us is just to have as busy a 2023 as we possibly can,” says Drew. “To take the momentum we’ve had from this year and push forward with it.
“There’ll definitely be something new from us next year – new music, new videos, all that.
“And no money left in the bank!”
The winners of the Scottish Alternative Act of the Year awards will be announced at ceremony in Glasgow on December 8 2022. Tickets are available from the SAMA website.