PRINTED MAGAZINES (GERMANY) HEAVY magazine (Germany, issue 112, June 2008) Rating: 11 / 12 Written by Martin Brandt Keine Angst: CATCH 22 aus Ohio sind nicht nach Italien ausgewandert, sondern das italienische Label Metal On Metal hat sich des letzten CATCH 22-Werkes angenommen und - nach dem selbstveröffentlichtenersten Teil "Soulreaper Vol. 1" - nun endlich die eigentlich geplante Doppel-CD (mit 22 Songs) herausgebracht. Mit diesem Werk können CATCH 22 direkt zum geilen Studiovorgänger "Awaken" anschließen und präsentieren sich auf extrem hohem Niveau. Zwar war der rifforientierte (thrashlastige) Power Metal schon auf "Awaken" kaum mehr zu verbessern, doch T.J. Berrys Gesangsleistung klingt auf "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" noch einen Tacken geiler. Von rauhen Passagen bei "Crawling" oder "Killing Floor", bis hin zu gut gesungenen Teilen z.B. bei "Swimming With Sharks" oder "Season Of The Witch" scheint der CATCH 22-Mainman nun alles souverän im Repertoire zu haben. Wer die Hoffung auf eine neue und gute METALLICA noch nicht aufgegeben hat oder die Zeit bis zur neuen ICED EARTH mit Barlow überbrücken will, der dürfte mit CATCH 22 und ihrem Doppelalbum "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" eine mehr als würdige Alternative gefunden haben. Don't worry: CATCH 22 from Ohio have not emigrated to Italy, but the Italian label Metal On Metal has adopted the last CATCH 22 work, and - after the self-released "Soulreaper Vol. 1" - finally released the originally planned double CD (with 22 songs). With this work CATCH 22 can connect directly to the great studio predecessor "Awaken" and present themselves on the extremely high level. While the riff-oriented (thrashy) Power Metal already on "Awaken" could hardly be improved, T.J. Berry's vocal performance on "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" sounds even cooler. From rough passages in "Crawling" or "Killing Floor", to parts as well sung as on for example "Swimming With Sharks" or "Season Of The Witch" it looks like the CATCH 22 mainman is the sovereign in all repertoire. Those who have not abandoned hope for a new and good METALLICA yet, or want to fill the time until the new ICED EARTH with Barlow, could find with CATCH 22 and their double album "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" a more than a worthy alternative. ROCK HARD magazine (Germany, issue 254, July 2008) Rating: 8,5 / 10 Written by Bruder Cle Die um 11 Songs auf die ursprünglich geplante Doppel-CD-Länge erweiterte Version des im Vorjahr erschienenen Underground-Klassikers "Soulreaper Vol. 1" knallt ohne Ende. Auch wenn sich die Musik grob als Mischung aus Judas Priest und alten Iced Earth kategorisieren lässt, man täte dem Trio (!) aus Ohio damit eigentlich unrecht, denn CATCH 22 haben mehr zu bieten als nur guten, klassischen (US-)Metal. Das Songwriting lebt vor allem von der leicht kauzigen und originellen Stimme von Sänger und Gitarrist T.J. Berry und einer Mischung aus treibenden Riffs, schönen Harmonieteilen und epischen Strukturen. Hier können Fans gepflegten US-Metals eigentlich nix falsch machen. Schaut auf die Homepage des Labels: www.metal-on-metal.com und erkundigt Euch nach Vertriebsstellen. Lohnt sich! The 11 songs from the originally planned double CD, extended version of the underground classic "Soulreaper Vol. 1" (released last year), bang without end. Even though the music can be categorized as a mixture of Judas Priest and old Iced Earth, we would actually do the trio (!) from Ohio wrong, because CATCH 22 have more to offer than just good, classic (US) metal. The songwriting is based mainly on the rather untypical and original voice of singer and guitarist T.J. Berry and on the mixture of driving riffs, beautiful harmony parts and epic structures. The fans of pure US Metal can't go wrong with this album. Check out the homepage of the label: www.metal-on-metal.com and go to the shop. It's worth it! FROM THE UNDERGROUND fanzine (Germany, issue 13, November 2008) Rating: - / - Written by Marco Im letzten Heft hatte ich ja schon die Vorgängerversion dieses Albums, also "Soulreaper Vol. 1" als toll befunden, und diesen Beschluss auch bis heute nicht bereut. Ebenso fällt auch mein Urteil bei der "aufgebohrten" aus; die elf zusätzlichen Songs sind keinesfalls Ausschuss, sondern von der gleichen Qualität. Die jetzt insgesamt 22 Stücke ergänzen sich gut und ergeben zusammen eine noch rundere Sache. Metal On Metal Records haben mit dieser Doppeldecker-CD ein heißes Eisen am Start, ein guter Anfang für die frische Plattenfirma. Wer den Vorgänger mochte - das sollten eigentlich alle Fans gepflegten thrashigen US Power Metals sein, kommt kaum um das Teil herum! In the last issue of our 'zine I already found the previous version of this album, that is "Soulreaper Vol. 1", amazing, and I haven't changed my mind about this. And my opinion is exactly the same about the "expanded" version; the 11 additional songs are by no means culls, but are of the same high quality. The now 22 songs complement each other well and make up for an even rounder thing. With this double CD Metal On Metal Records have some hot iron for the start, a good beginning for the new record company. Who liked the predecessor, that should be actually all fans of refined, thrashy US power metal, won't have a chance to ignore this album! PRINTED MAGAZINES (GREECE) METAL HAMMER magazine (Greece, issue 287, November 2008) Rating: 8 / 10 Written by Nikos Zagoyiannis PRINTED MAGAZINES (ITALY) METAL MANIAC magazine (Italy, issue 10, October 2008) Rating: 7,5 / 10 Written by Sandro Buti Debutto ufficiale per gli americani Catch 22, band di notevole longevità e pazienza - le sue prime prove sono datate 1992. "Soulreaper" a dire il vero è già uscito un paio d’anni fa, ma la Metal On Metal oggi lo ristampa come sarebbe dovuto uscire nelle intenzioni della band, un doppio CD con un totale di 22 canzoni, una sorta di doppio concept dalle tinte oscure dominato dalla personalità del cantante e chitarrista T.J. Berry. Musicalmente si parla di classico US metal dalle marcate influenze thrash; di musica potente ma sempre melodica, che richiama a volte i Metal Church, a volte i Testament più classici. Tra riff potenti, melodie marcate ed un songwriting vario ed efficace, i Catch 22 riescono nella difficile impresa di mantenere alta la tensione per tutto il doppio album - quasi 85 minuti di musica. E non è cosa da poco... The official debut on a label of American Catch 22, a band with a considerable longevity and patience - their first proofs of existence date back to 1992. "Soulreaper" as a matter of fact was released already two years ago, but now Metal On Metal re-released it the way it should be according to the intentions of the band, a double CD with the total of 22 songs, sort of a double concept with dark mood, dominated by the personality of the vocalist and guitarist T.J. Berry. Musically we are talking about classic US metal with strong thrash influences; powerful but always melodic music, that reminds sometimes of Metal Church and sometimes of the more classic Testament. Through mighty riffs, remarkable melodies and varied and efficient songwriting, Catch 22 succeed in the difficult task of maintaining the high tension throughout the whole double album - almost 85 minutes of music. This is not a small thing... PRINTED MAGAZINES (POLAND) HARD ROCKER magazine (Poland, issue 9, January 2009) Rating: 8 / 10 Written by Sławomir Kamiński Album Catch 22 jest pierwszą pozycją, jaką wydaje nowo powstała wytwórnia Metal On Metal, którą powołali do życia, Jowita Kamińska i Simone Peruzzi. Wydawnictwo to jest kontynuacją zeszłorocznej płytki "Soulreaper vol. I", którą Catch 22 wydał własnym sumptem. Tak więc należy sadzić, że wersja z zeszłego roku była tylko i wyłącznie zwiastunem obecnej, właściwej już płyty. Mamy tu dwa krążki, na których grupa zamieściła aż 85 minut muzyki. Każda z części zawiera po 11 kompozycji, które są bardzo różnorodne. Pierwszy krążek zatytułowany "Evilution Rising" zawiera utwory bardziej chwytliwe (można nawet powiedzieć, że przebojowe), które mają w sobie sporo melodii i klasycznego, heavy metalowego feelingu. Bardzo szybko przez to zapadają w naszą pamięć. Drugie sreberko pt: "Devilution Descending", zawiera z kolei utwory mocniejsze w wyrazie i brzmieniu, bardziej posępne i ponure w klimacie. Dzięki temu, że płyta jest tak skonstruowana, mamy tu, aż tak dużo zróżnicowanej muzyki. Utwory są doskonale zaaranżowane i zagrane (zwróćcie uwagę na wspaniałe solówki). Znajdziemy tu także masę znakomitych riffów gitar, gdzie trzeba bardziej melodyjnych, a gdzie indziej zadziornych i mocarnych. Niektóre utwory mają charakter bardziej narracyjny, prawie epicki, inne z kolei to surowe i niesamowicie ciężkie petardy. Jednak wszystko jest tu doskonale wyważone i przemyślane, a przez to, między innymi, tak bardzo ciekawe. Na wyróżnienie zasługują także partie wokalne. Mimo, iż T.J. Berry nie posiada jakiegoś oszałamiającego głosu o pięknej barwie, czy wielkiej skali, zapada w pamięć i najzwyczajniej w świecie podoba się słuchaczowi. Jego partie są mocne, konkretne, śpiewane w bardzo oryginalny i ciekawy sposób. Doskonale współgrają z materiałem instrumentalnym, tworząc nierozerwalną mocarną całość. Namawiam was, sięgnijcie po tą pozycję. Na pewno nie pożałujecie, gdyż jest to kawał ciężkiego grania, na najwyższym poziomie. Więcej na www.metal-on-metal.com. Catch 22 album is the first CD released by the new-born record label, Metal On Metal, founded by Jowita Kaminska and Simone Peruzzi. This album is the continuation of "Soulreaper Vol. 1" that Catch 22 released by themselves one year before. So we should treat the previous version like a sort of a "trailer" for the current, proper edition. What we have here are 2 discs with 85 minutes of music. Each part consists of 11 very diverse compositions. The first disc, called "Evilution Rising", contains songs that are more catchy (you can even say: with a bigger "hit" potential), having melodic and classic heavy metal feeling. This makes them sink into the mind very fast. The second silver disc, "Devilution Descending", contains tracks that are stronger in expression and sound and have a darker atmosphere. Thanks to the way the album is constructed, we've got here so much various music. The songs are perfectly arranged and played (pay attention to the brilliant solos). We'll find here also loads of remarkable riffs, sometimes more melodic, sometimes aggressive and powerful. Some songs have a more narrative character, almost epic, others are raw and incredibly heavy petards. However everything here is perfectly balanced and well thought-out, resulting in such interesting songs. The vocals are worth pointing out too. Even though T.J. Berry doesn't have a stunning voice with a beautiful tone or many octaves, his voice is memorable and simply likeable. His vocal parts are strong, to the point, sung in a very original and entertaining way. They fit perfectly to the music, forming an inseparable, powerful whole. I urge you to get this album. For sure you won't be disappointed, because it's a slab of heavy music on the highest level. HEAVY METAL PAGES magazine (Poland, issue 39, August 2008) Rating: 5,5 / 6 Written by Maciej Rojewski Kwestią czasu było to, kiedy Amerykanom uda się wydać "Soulreapera" w pełnej wersji. No i się udało. Pod swoje skrzydła przyjęli ich Metal On Metal, a my wreszcie możemy się cieszyć tym, że w końcu album został wydany tak, jak to miało być od początku - 2 pełne płyty. W zeszłym roku wydano własnym sumptem tylko pierwszą część, której recka pojawiła się zresztą w HMP jakiś czas temu. Teraz doszło kolejnych 11 kawałków. Jak się okazało, "Soulreaper vol.1" zawierał po kilka utworów z "Evilution Rising" i "Devilution Descending". Obecnie wszystkie kawałki są już na swoim miejscu i w swojej kolejności. Tak jak na promówce wszystko otwiera świetny "Soulreaper", po którym ciężko nie pokochać tej kapeli. Dalej jest jeszcze lepiej: "Cyberchrist", spokojny "Dis Con Nec Ted" czy "Doomsday Scenario" z basowym początkiem, zawsze mamy do czynienia z tak samo wysokim poziomem wykonawczym. I z pysznym, surowym, brudnym heavy metalem. Drugi krążek ("Devilution") otwiera "Crawling", tytuł oddaje wszystko. Powolny, sunący do przodu walec, który muzycznie zapożyczył się u Black Sabbath. Zejdźcie z drogi albo przyłączcie się do Catch 22! Następny "Never" kontynuuje średnie tempa, a T.J. Berry pokazuje, że potrafi zaśpiewać nisko, ale także zawyć Halfordowato. I tak, i tak brzmi doskonale. W "Vertigo" Catch 22 ukazuje nam bardziej wściekłą twarz. Zespół rusza z kopyta, niszczy wszystko na swojej drodze i nie pyta nas o zdanie. Gitary cudnie tną, bas buczy aż miło, po prostu surowy, pieprzony amerykański power metal! I tak sobie ta płyta płynie, atakują nas kolejne killery - czy to w połowie akustyczny, a potem zrywający się do ataku "Greed", czy krótki acz treściwy "T.F.A.". Zresztą ten tytuł dobrze oddaje całokształt całego "Soulreapera" - Total Fuckin' Annihilation! Ponad 80 minut muzycznej uczty dla miłośników klasycznego metalu. Słuchajcie w całości, słuchajcie tylko jednej płyty, słuchajcie obu na zmianę, jak chcecie. Ważne, żebyście zaznajomili się z tym albumem, bo jest tego cholernie warty. Wspaniale opakowany kawał surowego metalowego mięsa, który niniejszym staje się głównym kandydatem do metalowej płyty roku. Hail Catch 22! It was only a matter of time for the Americans to get the "Soulreaper" released in its full version. And they succeeded. Metal On Metal took them under their wings, so finally we can enjoy the album the way it was meant to be: on 2 full CDs. Last year the band released only the first part, of which a review was published in HMP some time ago. Now they added 11 tracks. It occured that "Soulreaper Vol. 1" contained a few songs from "Evilution Rising" and "Devilution Descending". Now all the tracks are on their place and in the right order. Like on the promo version, the opening song is the fantastic "Soulreaper", after which it's difficult not to love this band. Then it gets even better: "Cyberchrist", calm "Dis Con Nec Ted" and "Doomsday Scenario" with the bass intro - we always deal with the same high performance level. And with awsome, raw and dirty heavy metal. The second disc ("Devilution") starts with "Crawling" - the title says it all. Slow, moving forwards like a roller, with the musical ideas borrowed from Black Sabbath. Get out of their way or join Catch 22! The next track "Never" continues in the mid-tempos and T.J. Berry shows that he can sing in a low voice, but also scream like Halford. Either way he sounds perfect. In "Vertigo" Catch 22 shows their more rabid face. The band bolts, destroys everything on their way and doesn't ask us for opinion. The guitars shred, the bass buzzes nicely, just fucking raw US power metal! And so the album goes on, killer after killer - half acoustic, but then attacking "Greed", or short but full of substance "T.F.A.". This title reflects the whole "Soulreaper" album best: Total Fuckin' Annihilation! Over 80 minutes of musical feast for the fans of classic metal. Listen as a whole, listen to only one disc, listen to both by turns, any way you want. What matters is that you get to know this album, because it's damn worth it. A greatly packaged piece of raw metal meat, that thus becomes the main candidate for the metal album of the year. Hail Catch 22! PURE METAL magazine (Poland, issue 15, June 2008) Rating: - / - Written by Tomek "Nevermore" Woźniak W ubiegłym roku ukazała się płyta "Soulreaper vol. 1" formacji Catch 22. Z wywiadu, jaki wówczas przeprowadziliśmy z liderem grupy i twórcą całego jej materiału - śpiewającym gitarzystą - T.J. Berry’m wynikało, że w tym roku powinna wyjść druga część wspomnianego dzieła. Jakież wielkie było moje zaskoczenie, kiedy okazało się, że miast kontynuacji części pierwszej dostałem podwójny album Paragrafu 22, zawierający zarówno znany już materiał, jak i sporo premierowych numerów. Wniosek nasunął się sam - "Soulreaper vol. 1" należy traktować wyłącznie jako zwiastun, albo dysk promocyjny całego, trwającego aż 85 minut dzieła, które podzielone zostało na dwie odsłony i ładnie wydane w postaci podwójnego CD. Tyle tytułem wyjaśnienia. Po zapoznaniu się z całością odniosłem i po kilkunastokrotnych obcowaniu z najnowszą muzyką Paragrafu 22 nadal odnoszę wrażenie, że na płytce pilotującej "Soulreaper" znalazły się nie tyle te kompozycje, które najszybciej zostały zarejestrowane (jak to twierdził Ted Berry), ale po prostu najbardziej przebojowe, wpadające w ucho numery... Celowo nie napisałem "najlepsze", bo po pierwsze zawsze to rzecz gustu, a po drugie... z czasem docenia się także te pozornie nieco gorsze numery, a bywa że te mniej chwytliwe za którymś tam razem smakują najbardziej. Tak też rzecz ma się z kompozycjami Catch 22 z omawianego krążka. Obie części "Soulreaper" zawierają równo po jedenaście utworów. Na obu pojawiły się kawałki zamieszczone już na promocyjnym, ubiegłorocznym CD. Pierwsza płyta, zatytułowana "Evilution Rising", sprawia wrażenie jakby bardziej przebojowej, w pewnej mierze epickiej wręcz, poszczególne numery szybciej zapadają w pamięć i są generalnie nieco lżejsze od materiału, jaki trafił na drugi krążek ("Devilution Descending"). Pierwsza odsłona następcy "Awaken" zawiera znacznie większą dawkę melodii, niż miało to miejsce na poprzednich płytach zespołu, kompozycje mają w sobie więcej feelingu, gitarowych smaczków, ozdobników, ciekawych riffów, przejść, za to nieco mniej w nich drapieżnych zagrywek, a prawie zupełnie brak tak znamiennego dla dotychczasowej stylistyki grupy "thrashowego" doładowania. Prawie... bowiem śladowe ilości thrashu da się gdzieniegdzie wychwycić. Nieco inaczej przedstawia się druga odsłona, drugi dysk, na którym nagrania charakteryzują się większym "powerem", wyraźnie dociążono je, więcej w nich tego typowego dla Catch 22 brudu. To nie tylko efekt nieco niżej strojonych gitar, ale generalnie bardziej ponurego, mrocznego nastroju większości kompozycji. Tak jak już wspomniałem w ubiegłorocznej recenzji, w nowym obliczu Paragrafu 22 niewiele pozostało wpływów czy też nawiązań do dokonań Testament, tak wyraźnych na pierwszych trzech krążkach grupy. W obecnej muzyce zespołu można znaleźć więcej judasowskich inspiracji, dają się one tu i ówdzie wychwycić, ale wcale nie zdominowały one całego materiału. Znamiennym jest, że oba krążki otwierają pary naprawdę znakomitych, wyróżniających się kompozycji, jednych z lepszych w całym dorobku kapeli z Marietty ze stanu Ohio. W przypadku "Evilution Rising" na pierwszy ogień poszły: szybki, energiczny utwór tytułowy, oparty na świetnych, chwytliwym riffie oraz ciężki "Cyberchrist", który jako jeden z niewielu śmiało mógłby konkurować z najlepszymi numerami z "Awaken", zresztą swym charakterem też pasowałby do wspomnianego krążka. Po tak znamienitym otwarciu pierwsza część "Soulreaper" nabiera bardziej epickiego rozmachu (przebojowe "Atlantis Rising", "War Song" czy nieco sabbathowski "Damned For All Time"). Żwawiej na serduchu robi się przy mocniejszych "Swimming With Sharks" (rewelacyjne, ostre wokale!), "Doomsday Scenario" z dwoma ironowymi wręcz solami, urozmaiconym "Drown" czy szybkim, potężnym, siarczystym "Rising". Jest jeszcze dość dziwny jak na stylistykę Catch 22 "Dis Con Nec Ted", przywodzący nieco skojarzeń z twórczością Queensryche. Znacznie więcej surowych, zadziornych, przybrudzonych partii przynosi "Devilution Descending". Już otwierający go mocny "Crawling" z fajnymi, zadziornymi wokalami nie pozostawia złudzeń. Ted z kolegami kolejny raz udowadnia, że obok dobrej linii melodycznej ważne są przede wszystkim ciężkie riffy. Potwierdzeniem tych słów niech będzie naprawdę sabbathowski "Never". Z kolei taki bardzo mroczny, ciężki "Killing Floor" spokojnie mógłby znaleźć się na płycie "Chemical Wedding" Bruce’a Dickinsona. Czy zbieżność tytułów z kompozycją wokalisty Iron Maiden to przypadek? (kawałek o niemalże identycznym, no nieco wydłużonym tytule, pojawił się na wspomnianym albumie). Sporym zaskoczeniem jest dla mnie pierwszy - akustyczny - fragment "Greed (I Can’t Believe)" (pobrzmiewa tylko gitara), który nagle z pięknej balladki przeobraża się w niesamowicie ciężki, killerski utwór, z mocnymi riffami, ostrym śpiewem (nawet chwilami growl). Nie ukrywam, że rozwinięcie tego wałka to jak dla mnie esencja stylu Catch 22, to moim zdaniem najlepsza rzecz jaka trafiła na "Soulreaper", choć nie jedyna zawierająca nieco thrashowania (a takowe przyładowanie uświadczymy także w motorycznym "Vertigo"). Więcej takich numerów proszę w przyszłości i więcej thrashowych riffów! Ted... obiecałeś!!! Analogicznie jak to było w przypadku "Awaken", także nowy album wieńczy trylogia ("Cycles of the Sick Trilogy"). W jej skład wchodzą: krótki instrumentalny "Summer’s Reign", niespełna trzyminutowy "Season of the Witch" z mocnym wokalem, lekkim thrashowaniem i fantastycznym solem oraz wolny "Winter’s Call". W tej ostatniej kompozycji na szczególną uwagę zasługuje bardzo oryginalny śpiew Teda, który wydaje się być w życiowej formie! W ogóle to wokale stanowią, obok świetnych riffów i solówek, o sile nowej płyty. Cóż, Ted nigdy dotąd nie śpiewał tak pewnie, w tak bardzo różnorodny i urozmaicony sposób. Coraz mniej w nich wpływów Halforda, prawie zupełnie (choć trochę szkoda) zniknęły podobieństwa do Chucka Billy’ego. "Soulreaper" to pierwszy album Amerykanów w barwach nowej wytwórni płytowej... której szefuje dobrze Wam znana (nie tylko ze współpracy z naszym magazynem) Jowita Kamińska. Wspomnieć jeszcze należy, że jest to także pierwszy krążek jaki debiutująca na rynku firma Metal On Metal wypuściła. Dla przypomnienia dodam, że Jowita jest również autorką znakomitego obrazka zdobiącego okładkę płyty. Reasumując krótko powiem: znakomitego "Awaken" z 2003 roku nie udało się Tedowi i spółce przebić, ale niniejszy - mocno zróżnicowany - album prezentuje się naprawdę bardzo dobrze. Grupa ma własny styl i nawet przy znacznej różnorodności poszczególnych utworów z "Soulreaper", załączając krążek w dowolnym momencie, od razu rozpoznamy jaki gra zespół. Płytę na razie możecie nabyć po złożeniu zamówienia bezpośrednio w wytwórni, ale mam nadzieję, że już niedługo znajdzie się dobry krajowy dystrybutor, który będzie miał w swym katalogu wydawnictwa firmowane nazwą Metal On Metal. Last year "Soulreaper Vol. 1" of Catch 22 was released. From the interview that we did then with the leader of the band and the author of the whole material, the singing guitarist - T.J. Berry, it appeared that this year we the second part of this album should be out. To my great surprise instead of the continuation of the first part, I received a double album of Catch 22, containing the already known material as well as many never heard before songs. The conclusion was clear - "Soulreaper Vol. 1" should be treated only as an appetizer, or a promo for the whole, 85 minutes release, which was divided into 2 parts and released neatly as a double CD. That's it as for the explanation. After listening to the whole album I have the impression that on the "Soulreaper Vol. 1" the compositions that are the most catchy landed (and not those that were recorded first, as Ted Berry claimed). I didn't write "the best" on purpose, because first of all it's always a matter of taste, and second... sometimes you appreciate the other, seemingly a bit worse tracks and it happens that the less catchy ones after a few spins taste the best. That's how it is with the Catch 22 songs from this album. Both parts of "Soulreaper" contain 11 tracks. On both there are some songs previously released on the last year's promo CD. The first disc, "Evilution Rising" seems more catchy, even epic to some extent, particular songs sink into memory faster and are generally a bit lighter than the ones that landed on the second disc ("Devilution Descending"). The first part of the successor of "Awaken" contains a much bigger dose of melody than on the previous albums of the band, the compositions are more atmospheric, they have more guitar flavours, grace-notes, interesting riffs, passages, but a bit less of the aggressive parts and almost no "thrashiness" that had been characteristic for the band's style 'til now. Almost... because you can still hear some thrash here and there. The second part is a bit different, the songs there have more power, are heavier, and have more of this characteristic for Catch 22 dirt. This is not only because of the guitars tuned lower, but because of the overall darker and more gloomy atmosphere of the most of the compositions. As I mentioned in my last year's review, in the new style of Catch 22 there's not much of the Testament influences, that were so clear on the first three albums, left. In the current music of the band you can hear more Judas Priest inspirations, however they haven't dominated the whole album. Both of the discs kick off with pairs of really brilliant, standing-out compositions, some of the best in the whole discography of this band from Marietta, Ohio. In the case of "Evilution Rising" this is: fast and energetic title track, based on splendid, catchy riff and the heavy "Cyberchrist", which as one of the few could compete with the best songs from "Awaken" and would actually fit into this album. After this grand beginning the first part of "Soulreaper" gets a more epic spirit (catchy "Atlantis Rising", "War Song" or a bit Sabbath'ish "Damned For All Time"). Then come the more intense "Swimming With Sharks" (outstanding, aggressive vocals!), "Doomsday Scenario" with two Maiden'ish solos, diverse "Drown" and fast, powerful "Rising". There's also a bit strange for the Catch 22 style "Dis Con Nec Ted", reminding of Queensryche. Many more raw and dirty sounding parts are on "Devilution Descending". Already the opening track "Crawling" with cool aggressive vocals leaves no doubts. Ted and the guys prove again that apart from a good melodic line the heavy riffs are most important. The Black Sabbath influenced "Never" confirms this. Then the very dark, heavy "Killing Floor" could easily be on the Bruce Dickinson "Chemical Wedding" album. Is the sameness of its title with the title of the Iron Maiden vocalist's composition coincidental? The first - acoustic - fragment of "Greed (I Can't Believe)" (there's only the guitar) was quite a surprise for me, but then out of a sudden this beautiful ballad turns into an incredibly heavy, killer song, with powerful riffs, aggressive singing (sometimes even growling). I have to say that the development of this track is the essence of the Catch 22 style for me, in my opinion it's also the best song from "Soulreaper", however not the only one that contains some thrashing (such punching you can hear also in the driving "Vertigo"). More songs like this and more thrash riffs in the future, please! Ted... you promised!!! Analogically to "Awaken" CD, also this album is crowned by a trilogy ("Cycles Of The Sick Trilogy"). It contains: a short instrumental "Summer's Reign", somewhat less than three minutes "Season Of The Witch" with strong vocals, a bit of thrashing and a fantastic solo and a slow "Winter's Call". In this last composition Ted's very unique way of singing, shines above all - he seems to be in his life's best form! All in all, the vocals, besides the superb riffs and solos, decide about the strength of this new album. Well, Ted has never sung in such a confident, convincing and much varied way. There are less Halford influences and the similarities to Chuck Billy are almost gone too (that's a bit of pity). "Soulreaper" is the first album of these Americans released by a new record label... whose boss is the well-known to you (not only for the past co-operation with our magazine) Jowita Kaminska. What's worth mentioning is that it's also the first album released by Metal On Metal label. As a reminder I'll mention that Jowita is also the author of the great artwork adorning the cover of this album. To sum up: Ted & co. didn't top the excellent "Awaken" from 2003, but this - very diverse - album sounds really extremely good. The band has their own style, and despite all this variety of the particular songs from "Soulreaper", after pressing "play" in any chosen moment, you will immediately recognize what band it is. For the moment you can order the CD directly from the label, but I hope that soon a good Polish distributor will have the Metal On Metal releases in his catalogue. WEBZINES (BELGIUM) METAL TO INFINITY webzine (www.metaltoinfinity.tk) Rating: 96 / 100 Written by Stefan Sileghem (...) The label's very first release is Catch 22, name of the album is ''Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution''. First shot - first kick in the head because Ohio based Catch 22 bring on the very best. Forget about "modern - beating around the bush" ways of Metal... this is for real, guys - in your face, awesome Power/Thrash Metal, the American way. It's actually a double CD, on board are at least 22 killer songs. Last year's release of Catch 22 ''Soulreaper Vol. 1'' has been brought out as an independent item with only 11 works to be heard. All those also are on the DCD plus eleven other ones. In other words, you get the full gear, thanx to Metal On Metal Records, hell yeah. I've always been a fan of Catch 22 because of their power, roughness, song structures that can kill... I don't want to forget to show my honor and faith in the one and only vocalist/guitarist, Mr. T.J. Berry. This evil looking, long haired brother of Metal sings phenomenally to me. Not comparable with others, he's definitely "one of a kind". Watch out for his deadly, violent screams - enjoy T.J.'s high pitched lines - he also can handle deep, low-roaring tunes; once again, this guy's really great and I even haven't talked about his "axe wielding" movements. Very powerful riffs with outstanding, pure Metal covered solos that melt the ice. Armed to teeth with precious skills, main man T.J. Berry's delivering the goods for sure! Since I knew Catch 22, they've always had an eye for technical details and that's great to me. Not cloning other Metal bands, they do it all their own original way... US Power/Heavy Metal fans will be completely pleased and Thrash Metal worshippers will be served too. Various enough, each song has its own character which makes this album a very appreciated and highly recommended output, made by a very promising band. Busy playing great songs for more than a decade, I guess Catch 22's team-up situation with MOM Records is something well deserved and will put their name on the international map of True Metal, the American way! The package of this double CD looks brilliant, Jowita Kaminska shows her talents on the impressive looking cover - this is pure magical art done by the mistress herself, well, sister. Also provided are the lyrics, to be found in booklet, while inlay is featuring the band's information... all has been foreseen, you won't miss a damn thing. ''Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution'', a killer album the way it should be for fans of Dream Death, Doomshade, Testament, Savatage (the early years!). Before closing down, I'd like to mention a few songs to which you can let your US Metal spirit run free... here they are: "Soulreaper", "Cyberchrist", "Drown", "Swimming With Sharks", "Doomsday Scenario", "Rising", "Crawling", "Saviour Self", "Killing Floor" and many more but find it out yourself and make your own mind. If you have a heart for typical US Metal - old school tradition - start your engine now and follow the road to your local record store in hope to grab this awesome double CD. Otherwise, take place in front of your PC screen and surf to: www.metal-on-metal.com. Metal the way it should be - without a band like Catch 22 your CD collection won't be complete. I'm satisfied all over - CATCH 22 rules!!! WEBZINES (FRANCE) LE FANTASTIQUE webzine (www.lefantastique.fr) Rating: - / - Written by Denis Labbé Les fans de heavy metal pur et dur vont se jeter sur ce double album de Catch 22, un groupe Américain qui en est à son quatrième méfait, tout en étant totalement inconnu dans nos contrées. Cela devrait changer, tant j'ai été surpris par la maîtrise des compositions qui lorgnent parfois du côté de Judas Priest ("Soulreaper) nous ramenant aux grandes heures du groupes anglais. Les rythmes sont variés, les riffs bien choisis et la section rythmique soutient l'ensemble avec beaucoup d'efficacité. On sent des influences américains des années 80 comme Omen, Savage Grace, Manilla Road ou Liegelord, notamment dans certaines structures de morceaux tels ("Cyberchrist", "Swimming With Sharks" ou "Rising"). Cela nous donne un bel album, bien maîtrisé, qui nous offre des titres carrés, puissants et bien interprétés ("Lies Of The Sinner", "Doomsday Scenario", "Crawling" et le furieux "Vertigo"). En 22 titres, comme dans le nom du groupe, Catch 22 nous livre le meilleur de lui-même et devrait intéresser les fans de heavy metal. METAL INTEGRAL webzine (www.metal-integral.com) Rating: 17 / 20 Written by Raskal Après deux démos et quatre albums entre 1994 et 2007, le label Metal on Metal a enfin permis à CATCH 22 de repousser un peu plus les frontières de l'Underground pour ce talentueux groupe de l'Ohio. J'ai déjà chroniqué Soulreaper Vol 1 et je vous averti tout de suite, ce double CD 2008 n'est pas le volume 2...C'est tout simplement l'oeuvre intégrale Soulreaper vol 1 dans sa version d'origine de 22 titres dans l'ordre qui permet de mieux comprendre ce concept album. Si vous possédez le vol 1 sachez qu'il contient quasiment les meilleurs titres, ce CD 2008 n'aura vraiment un intérêt pour vous que si vous êtes fan du groupe. A ce moment vous trouverez avec ce double CD non seulement les paroles des 22 titres mais surtout onze nouveaux titres dans la même lignée que ceux du volume 1. Si vous ne connaissez pas encore ce groupe, sachez que les compositions du groupe sont un mélange de ICED EARTH, ANNIHILATOR, METAL CHURCH (mi 90's) et METALLICA (Black Album). La basse est donc très présente et les compositions en ambiances plutôt sombres, mais les mélodies sont bien présentes. CATCH 22 est le genre de groupe qui de toute façon ne laissera pas indifférent, le talent des musiciens est bien présent et la personnalité également. Un groupe à écouter avec attention les premières fois pour bien rentrer dans son univers musical particulier. Pour certains 22 titres ce sera beaucoup trop, pour d'autres génial faites vous vite votre propre opinion. Metal On Metal records has allowed CATCH 22, a talented band from Ohio having two demos and four albums between 1994 and 2007, to finally push a little over the borders of the underground. I have already reviewed "Soulreaper Vol. 1" and I warn you right away: this double CD is not the 2008 volume 2... This is simply the full "Soulreaper" work in its original version with 22 tracks. If you have Vol. 1, be aware that it contains virtually the best songs, this album from 2008 will really be important if you are a fan of the group. Now you will find on this double CD not only the lyrics of the 22 tracks, but most of all 11 new titles in the same vein as those from Volume 1. If you don't know this band yet, know that their compositions are a blend of ICED EARTH, ANNIHILATOR, METAL CHURCH (mid '90s) and METALLICA (Black Album). The bass is very present and the songs have a rather dark mood, but the melodies are there too. CATCH 22 is the kind of group that will not leave you indifferent, the talent of the musicians and the personality shine there. A band that you should listen to with attention the first times, so you can have many good returns to their special musical universe. For some 22 titles will be too much, for others great - you'll quickly form your own opinion. WEBZINES (GERMANY) METAL2METAL webzine (www.metal2metal.de) Rating: 4 / 5 Written by Tom Schmahl Als im letzten Jahr das neue Album von den US-Metallern Catch 22 erschien, war der Underground um eine grandiose Eigenproduktion reicher. Die Songs von "Evilution Rising", besonders der Oberhammer "Cyberchrist" (geiles Riffing) und das leicht düstere "Doomsday Scenario", ließen keine Wünsche offen, bloß der Erfolg will sich bei der sympathischen Truppe nicht einstellen. Nun hat sich das Label Metal On Metal der Band angenommen und hat das Album noch einmal veröffentlicht, bloß das die Band weitere 11 Songs rausgerückt hat und somit ist aus dem Ganzen eine Doppel-CD geworden. Der zweite Longplayer nennt sich "Devilution Descending" und ist noch ein Tick besser als der erste Output, wobei die insgesamt 22 Tracks, auf beide Silberling spontan verteilt wurden und nicht die im letztem Jahr erschienende CD auch gleich CD1 darstellt. Gleich der Opener "Crawling" kommt gewaltig daher oder das nach vorne treibende "Saviour Self" ist über alle US Metal-Macht erhaben. Vergesst die aktuellen Iced Earth, stellt euch dafür lieber Catch 22 ins Regal. Ein weiterer Knaller ist das Ohrwurm-lastige "Lies Of The Sinner", eine famose Uptempo-Nummer. Ich könnte hier noch diverse Tracks aufführen, aber ordert euch diese überragende Doppel-CD selbst und überzeugt euch über die Klasse dieser unterbewerteten Band. Wer auf Underground steht, dazu noch auf US Metal mit ein wenig Thrash-Anleihen, der ist mit dem aktuellen Wer der Amis bestens bedient. Vor allem, wo bekommt man eine Doppel-Cd für einen Einfachpreis und hat zwei gleichstarke Silberlinge zur Hand? Ich danke auf alle Fälle Jowita Kaminska und ihrem Label für diese bombastische Veröffentlichung. www.metal-on-metal.com METAL RULES webzine (www.metal-rules.de) Rating: - / - Written by IronIngo Vorab erstmal ein persönliches Statement, welches mir sehr am Herzen liegt und zwar bezüglich der neuen JUDAS PRIEST: Was für ein unglaublicher Müll, wir wollen die Rübe schütteln und nicht meditieren!!! (Sorry, Holger, aber da ist mir wirklich nicht zu helfen!). But now to something completely different, nämlich glasklaren und unverwässertem Heavy Metal aus Ohio/USA. Mit Evilution/Devilution bringt das italienische Label Metal On Metal Records nun das komplette Werk nach der Soulreaper Vol.1 als Doppel-CD heraus und diese Burschen sind ihrem Sound absolut treu geblieben, soll heißen, wer auf den klassischen Metal alter JUDAS PRIEST, ARMORED SAINT, JAG PANZER, alter SAVATAGE und seligen Klängen sehr alter METALLICA steht, muss hier bedingungslos zugreifen, Vertriebe für dieses edle Teil gibt es zur Genüge. Der Opener "Soulreaper" kommt gleich als waschechter Banger a la SAVATAGE und ARMORED SAINT, mit "Cyberchrist" eröffnet der wieder sehr genial singende T.J. Berry mit einem markerschütternden Schrei unweigerlich Erinnerungen an einen grandiosen Halford... Überhaupt lassen sich auf dem Doppel-Silberling absolut keine Ausfälle ausmachen, jeder traditionsbewusste Metalhead muss hier einfach zugreifen, U.S.-Metal ist lebendiger denn je, helft verdammt noch mal alle mit, das es auch so bleibt und sichert euch dieses formidable "Ohrenfutte". Infos gibt es unter www.truemetal.org/catch22 oder beim Label unter www.metal-on-metal.com. First just a personal remark concerning the new JUDAS PRIEST release: what an unbelievable crap, we want to shake our heads and not meditate! (sorry, Holger, but I really could not help!). But now on to something completely different, that is crystal clear and undiluted heavy metal from Ohio: CATCH 22. After "Soulreaper Vol.1", the Italian label Metal On Metal Records released now the complete work, "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" as a double CD and these guys remained absolutely loyal to their sound, that means, if you are into the classic metal in the vein of old JUDAS PRIEST, ARMORED SAINT, JAG PANZER, old SAVATAGE and the godly sounds of very early METALLICA, you should reach for it without any hesitation, there are enough mailorders selling this gem. The opening track "Soulreaper" is a pure banger in the vein of SAVATAGE and ARMORED SAINT, "Cyberchrist" starts off with a bloodcurdling scream (inevitably reminiscent of a certain brilliant Halford) of T.J. Berry whose vocal performance once again is nothing less than fantastic. All in all, this double CD contains absolutely no fillers, it's a must for every tradition-loving metalhead. US metal is more alive than ever, so damn it, help to keep up its status and get your copy of this this impressive "food for ears". Get more information under www.truemetal.org/catch22 or on the label website: www.metal-on-metal.com. THE ROCK DUNGEON webzine (www.the-rock-dungeon.blogspot.com) Rating: 8,5 / 10 Written by The_Seventhson Was kommt dabei raus wenn man Grave Digger, Overkill und Judas Priest kreuzen würde? Nun ja, genau kann ich es auch nicht sagen, allerdings kommen die Jungs von Catch 22 aus Ohio (USA) meinen Vorstellungen schon sehr nahe. Wer hier jetzt auf böse Gedanken kommt und meint, es handele sich um eine simple Kopie, dem sei an dieser Stelle schon mal gesagt "dem ist nicht so". Der Sound mag zwar dem der vorher genannten Bands nahe kommen aber dennoch klingen Sie anders. Was die Sache sehr interessant macht ist das man hier die Songs nicht nur stumpf durchspielt, wie manch andere Band das heutzutage gern macht. Einerseits hat man den Sound der frühen Heldentage, den manch einer lange vermisst hat, andererseits bekommt man hier aber durch genug Abwechslung bei den einzelnen Liedern viel frischen Wind um die Ohren geblasen. Ja ihr habt richtig gelesen "Abwechslung" und die bekommt man nicht zu wenig, hier ist vom Downtempo Titel wie "Atlantis Rising" bis zum mitreißenden Uptempobrecher "Swimming With Sharks" alles drin. Ich würde das hier aus meinen Lautsprechern dringende Material gerade gern als frischen alten Sound betiteln, auch wenn es vielleicht seltsam klingen mag. Denn viele werden, vielleicht auch zurecht, sagen frisch und alt passen nicht zusammen. Aber was diese Band hier auf 2 CDs in insgesamt 85 Minuten Spielzeit bietet, klingt nun mal nach alten Tagen und dennoch frisch - als würde man noch nicht allzuviel aus diesem Genre kennen. Wirklich gut finde ich auch die Tatsache, dass sich die 1992 gegründete Combo treu geblieben ist und sich nicht von der damals aufkommenden Grungewelle hat anstecken lassen. Was aus heutiger Sicht wohl auch die absolut richtige Entscheidung gewesen war. Denn wie populär dieses Genre mittlerweile ist, hat wahrscheinlich auch der eingefleischteste Fan dieser Richtung mittlerweile zu seinem Bedauern feststellen müssen. Dank zahlreicher Labels wie Metal on Metal Records die auch Catch 22 unter Vertrag genommen haben, können sich die geneigten Fans ihren Geschmack selber aussuchen und Bands wie diese können endlich die Aufmerksamkeit bekommen die sie verdient haben und werden dem Publikum nicht länger verschwiegen. Fazit: Das man auch mit dem guten alten Sound noch frisch und damit modern klingen kann, beweisen Catch 22 auf ihrem über zwei Rundlinge verteilten Longplayer "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution". Ich kann sie Euch nur empfehlen, denn jede der 85 Minuten dieses Werkes ist lohnenswert. What would you get if you crossed Grave Digger, Overkill and Judas Priest? Well, I can't say exactly, however the guys from Catch 22 from Ohio (USA) come very close to my ideas. If you have bad thoughts now and suppose it is a simple copy, I already state here: "this is not the case". Their sound may come close to the aforementioned bands, but they sound different. What makes it very interesting is that the songs are not just dully played through, something that some other bands often do nowadays. On the one hand you've got here the sound of the early heroes days, that many have been missing for a long time, on the other, thanks to enough variety in the individual songs, you get a lot of fresh air blown around your ears. Yes you did read correctly: "variety" and you get a lot of it; there's everything here, from the downtempo song such as "Atlantis Rising" to the rousing uptempo crusher "Swimming With Sharks". I would call this imperative material coming from my speakers just the fresh old sound, even though it may perhaps seem strange. Because many, perhaps rightly, say that fresh and old don't fit together. However what this band offers here on 2 CDs with a total of 85 minutes playing time resounds of the old days, nevertheless still fresh - like not too many bands of this genre. I really like the fact that the combo, founded in 1992, remained true and never got contaminated by the then emerging grunge wave. What from current point of view has been probably the absolutely right decision. After all, by now even the most die-hard fan of this genre must have probably realized to his regret, how popular it is meanwhile. Thanks to numerous labels such as Metal On Metal Records, that have also given a record deal to Catch 22, the prone fans can choose following their own tastes and bands like this can finally get the attention they deserve and will no longer be kept secret to the public. Conclusion: Catch 22 prove with their double CD "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" that even playing the good traditional style, you can still sound fresh and not dated. I can only recommend it you, because each of the 85 minutes of this work is worthwhile. UNDERGROUND EMPIRE webzine (www.underground-empire.com) Rating: 14 / 20 Written by Walter Scheurer Die Amis CATCH 22 hatten bereits im letzten Jahr auf eigene Kappe eine Platte namens "Soulreaper Vol. 1" veröffentlicht, die von Anfang an als Doppeldecker geplant war. Selbiger ist nun erschienen, denn diese Doppel-CD enthält nicht nur alle Songs der bisherigen CD, sondern auch jene, die seinerzeit fehlten und eigentlich auf einem zweiten Teil hätten erscheinen sollen. Dieser fällt jetzt aber flach, da "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" - wie erwähnt - die ganze Herrlichkeit umfaßt. Dabei ist erneut gelungener US-Metal angesagt, der sich zwischen alten SAVATAGE, ICED EARTH und AGENT STEEL bewegt und rundum zu überzeugen versteht. Einzig in soundtechnischer Hinsicht hätte man sich etwas mehr Wumms gewünscht, doch da die Band die Platte in Eigenregie aufgenommen hätte, dürfte wohl das entsprechende Budget nicht vorhanden gewesen sein. Daher sollte man solche Gedanken beiseiteschieben und einfach das neue italienische Indie METAL ON METAL loben, daß sie uns die komplette "Bescherung" serviert - ein guter Beweis, daß bei diesem Label engagierte Leute am Werk sind, denn eine "normale" Plattenfirma hätte sich niemals eingelassen, eine Doppel-CD zu veröffentlichen. Die Doppelscheibe, die US-Metal-Freunde mit Sicherheit beglücken wird, gibt es über die Labelhomepage: www.metal-on-metal.com. Weitere Infos über CATCH 22 findet Ihr auf dem Webpage der Band: http://truemetal.org/catch22. Last year American band CATCH 22 had already released a record entitled "Soulreaper Vol. 1" on their own. It was planned as a double CD from the start, but had not been released as such until now. But they finally got it: this double CD contains not only all the songs of the previous release, but also those that had been actually missing at that time and that were supposed to appear on the second part. But it doesn't matter anymore, because "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" - as mentioned - contains the whole glory. Again the successful US metal is present, which ranges between the old SAVATAGE, ICED EARTH and AGENT STEEL and gets to convince all around. Only in sound-technical regard one would have wished for somewhat more punch, but since the band recorded the album on their own, the appropriate budget might have been not available. Therefore you should push aside such thoughts and simply praise the new Italian indie label, METAL ON METAL, for serving us the complete "bag of tricks" - a good proof that in this label dedicated people are at work, because a "normal" record company would have never engaged in publishing a double CD. The double disc, that for sure would make the US metal fans happy, is available on the label website: www.metal-on-metal.com. More information about CATCH 22 can be found on the webpage of the band: http://truemetal.org/catch22. WEBZINES (GREECE) BEHIND THE VEIL webzine (www.veilgr.com) Rating: 7,5 / 10 Written by Nick "Verkaim" Parastatidis I would like to give you some info on this album that I discovered in the internet search I did, before presenting it to you. The album was released for the first time in 2007 under the title "Soulreaper Vol. 1" and it was self-financed. During the recordings of the album the band had composed 22 songs, but due to the lack of money they had included only 11 and they had planned to release the other ones in the future. However, luck seems to have smiled upon this band (in my opinion they deserve it) and they signed a deal with Metal On Metal Records. This fact gave them the chance to release all the songs they have composed. Musically now, CATCH 22 haven't changed a bit from their sound, but they have only added some more classic metal parts in their sound in order to make it more intriguing. So, the band continues to play speed/heavy metal that draws a lot of influences from bands like SAVATAGE (first 2 albums) and the 80's TESTAMENT. The double CD release must not scare you since most of the songs are very interesting and full of energy! OK, you can't avoid some mediocre songs I think when you release an album of such a long duration, but in general CATCH 22 are doing a fine job and I think that the friends of the U.S. speed/power metal will find here a release that will keep them busy for a long time. FLIGHT OF PEGASUS webzine (www.flightofpegasus.gr) Rating: - / - Written by George Politopoulos Χορταστικό, διπλό το νέο τέταρτο άλμπουμ του αμερικανικού συγκροτήματος, είναι το δημιούργημα του αμερικανού κιθαρίστα και τραγουδιστή T.J. Berry, ο οποίος και παραμένει τώρα ο μόνος από τη σύνθεση που το ηχογράφησε. Εδώ συμπεριλαμβάνονται είκοσι δύο συνθέσεις με ισχυρή σύνδεση με το heavy/power της δεκαετίας του '80, καλοπαιγμένες και με ωραία, χωρίς υπερβολές, φωνητικά. Είναι πολύ πιθανό να αρέσει σε όσους συμπαθούν παλαιότερες μουσικές με το σκεπτικό ότι αποτελούν δείγματα ακραιφνούς μετάλλου, συντελεί και ο όλος ήχος του σε αυτό. Τα τραγούδια τους έχουν σαφή, εύληπτη δομή και αυτό δε δυσχεραίνει καθόλου τη ροή της ακρόασης. Χωρίς πάντως να αποδεικνύεται κακό ή κουραστικό, σταδιακά δίνει την εντύπωση ότι δεν μπορεί να προκαλέσει την αναπάντεχη έκπληξη που θα τόνωνε το ενδιαφέρον. Συμπαθητικό υλικό από ένα όνομα που, μετά από πολλές εμφανίσεις σε άλμπουμ διασκευών, διεκδικεί την εκτίμηση όσων αρέσκονται σε πράγματα ξεκάθαρα. Substantially, the new double fourth album of this American band is the creation of the guitarist and singer T.J. Berry, who is now the only remaining member from the line-up that recorded this album. Included here are twenty two compositions with a strong connection to the heavy/power of the '80s and with fine vocals without excesses. It is very likely to please those who like old-school music because these are pure metal samples, and the whole sound contributes to this. The songs have clear, comprehensible structure that makes it all flowing. Without proving tiring or bad, the album gradually gives the impression that it can cause unexpected surprise that will stimulate interest. Good material from a band that, after several appearances on the cover albums, claims the appraisal of those who like things clear. METALEAGLE webzine (www.metaleagle.com) Rating: 7,5 / 10 Written by Σπύρος Τέλιας Οι CATCH 22 είναι μια αμερικάνικη power/thrash μπάντα που υφίσταται από το 1992. Δύο χρόνια αργότερα ηχογράφησαν το πρώτο τους demo με τίτλο "Crazier Than Life". Έως σήμερα η μπάντα έχει στο ενεργητικό της άλλο ένα demo και 4 ολοκληρωμένες δουλειές με το "Soulreaper…" να είναι η 5η κυκλοφορία τους, πίσω από την οποία υπάρχει μια μικρή ιστορία. Το παρόν cd είναι διπλό και περιλαμβάνει 22 τραγούδια. Επρόκειτο δε να κυκλοφορήσει μέσα στο 2007. Αντί αυτού όμως η μπάντα κυκλοφόρησε με αυτοχρηματοδότηση σε μορφή μονού cd το "Soulreaper Volume 1" με 5 τραγούδια από το ένα cd ("Devilution Descending") και 6 από το άλλο ("Evilution Rising"). Η όλη τους προσπάθεια απέσπασε καλές κριτικές με αποτέλεσμα να κεντρίσουν το ενδιαφέρον της METAL ON METAL που τους υπέγραψε. Φτάνοντας στο 2008, αποφάσισαν να κυκλοφορήσουν το "Soulreaper:Evilution/Devilution" σε μορφή διπλού cd περιλαμβάνοντας όλα τα τραγούδια των παραπάνω δίσκων, όπως προοριζόταν να γίνει εξ' αρχής. Το ηχητικό δείγμα είναι αρκετά μεγάλο, έτσι μετά την ακρόαση έχουμε μια επαρκή συνολική εικόνα της μπάντας και του ύφους της στις μέρες μας. Όπως ανέφερα στην αρχή της παρουσίασης, παίζουν αμερικάνικο power/thrash στο στυλ των HEATHEN, METAL CHURCH, OVERKILL και πρώιμων TESTAMENT. Συνεπώς μιλάμε για συνθέσεις μεταξύ power και thrash, thrash όχι όμως κατά τα ευρωπαϊκά πρότυπα (π.χ. KREATOR), αλλά τα αμερικάνικα και ειδικότερα των παραπάνω groups. 21 τραγούδια και ένα instrumental που στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος τους εξαπολύουν επίθεση heavy riffs βγαλμένα από τη δεκαετία του 80 και ένα τραγουδιστή που ηχητικά κυμαίνεται από Bobby Ellsworth έως David White με ηχόχρωμα που φέρνει στο μυαλό cult 80's μπάντες (π.χ. HEAVY LOAD). Οι συνθέσεις δεν θα σε αφήσουν αδιάφορο αν είσαι μέσα στο είδος και τελικά η διπλή αυτή κυκλοφορία ήταν επιβεβλημένη μιας και τραγούδια όπως για παράδειγμα τα "War Song" και "Doomsday Scenario" που δεν συμπεριλήφθηκαν στο "Soulreaper Volume 1", αξίζουν να ακουστούν. Τα κιθαριστικά μέρη και ειδικά τα σόλο είναι καθόλα προσεγμένα, ενώ ο ήχος της κιθάρας καθαρός και δυνατός. Είναι μια κυκλοφορία που θα γεμίσει το κενό των οπαδών του είδους. Οι CATCH 22 δεν πάνε για το μεγάλο μπάμ, αλλά υπηρετούν ένα είδος που είναι δύσκολο να πετύχεις. Τούτοι εδώ είναι αν μη τι άλλο τίμιοι αλλά και ταλαντούχοι οπότε καλό είναι να τους δώσετε μια ευκαιρία. Εμένα πάντως με έβαλαν στην πρίζα να ψάξω και τις προηγούμενες κυκλοφορίες τους. The CATCH 22 is an American power/thrash band that has existed since 1992. Two years later recorded their first demo entitled "Crazier Than Life". So far the band has in the assets another demo and 4 full length albums with the "Soulreaper ..." being the 5th movement, behind which there is a short story. This CD is double and includes 22 songs. It was to be released in 2007. Instead, however, the band self-released the single CD version "Soulreaper Volume 1" with 5 songs from one CD ("Devilution Descending") and 6 from the other ("Evilution Rising"). The whole effort has gained good reviews thus stimulated interest of METAL ON METAL and got them signed. In 2008, the label decided to release "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" as a double CD containing all the songs on these disks, as it was to meant to be done from the start. The sound sample is large enough, so after listening to it, we have a sufficient overview of the band and their style of today. As I mentioned at the beginning of this presentation, they play US power/thrash style in the vein of HEATHEN, METAL CHURCH, OVERKILL and early TESTAMENT. So we are talking here about compositions between power and thrash; thrash, but not by European standards (for example KREATOR), but the American school and especially of the above mentioned bands. 21 songs and an instrumental that in the biggest part launch the attack of the heavy riffs coming out from the '80s, and a singer whose style ranges from Bobby Ellsworth to David White, with timbre that brings to mind the cult '80s bands (for example HEAVY LOAD). The compositions will not leave you indifferent if you are into this genre and ultimately this double CD release was a necessary thing and songs such as "War Song" and "Doomsday Scenario" not included in the "Soulreaper Volume 1", deserve to be heard. The guitar parts, especially the solos are quite carefully crafted, and the sound of the guitar is clean and strong. It is a release that will fill the void for the fans of this kind of music. CATCH 22 does not go for the Big Bang, but they serve the genre well, which is difficult to achieve. There is nothing here but honesty and talent, which is a good reason to give them a chance. Anyway, it made me want to hunt for their previous releases. METALZONE webzine (www.metalzone.gr) Rating: 80 / 100 Written by Lampros "Witchfynder" Tennes My first contact with the outfit from Ohio, Catch 22, was on a King Diamond tribute CD when the band did a really very good cover of King's "Arrival". The band was formed back in the early 90's (1992) and from that time till now had three albums plus the self financed release of "Soulreaper Vol. 1" (2007), that was actually a promo CD that in the first place was meant to be a 22 tracks album but they didn't manage it and the release came with only 11 tracks. But now the Italian heavy metal label, Metal On Metal records, gave them the opportunity to release the whole album (containing all of the 22 tracks of that session) on a double CD under the title "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution". While I was listening to this release, my mind filled with 80's metal images, like bands that play metal because they WANT to play metal, with inspiration and true feeling. The origin of pure heavy metal! So if Catch 22 had been around as a band then, they would have been one of the great bands of that time. Their music is pure heavy metal with many touches of speed/thrash/power metal. Can you imagine a very solid mix of Testament, Overkill, Savatage and other bands of the 80's? If you can imagine this, then you have the musical product of Catch 22, with very good vocals, somewhere between Chuck Billy, Jon Oliva and Joey Belladonna. Very good are also the melodic lines of guitars and voice and in my opinion their best feature is the riffing... in specific parts this band sounds like a riff-machine... The songs are very wisely composed and I'd dare to say technically structured with many "cuts" and many tempo and riffing changes. Personally I spent a great time listening to the album, and it is possible that you will also spend some good time... so give them a change, you won't regret it for sure. WEBZINES (HOLLAND) MARIO'S METAL MANIA webzine (www.mariosmetalmania.com) Rating: 80 / 100 Written by Kostas Kounadinis Catch 22 is no rookie in the power metal universe. Formed in 1992, the band recorded a couple of demos before releasing their self financed debut album in 1997. A second one followed one year later. I became familiar with the band's music by listening to the 2003 "Awaken" album, their third effort. I was impressed by these guys and marked them in my book. A few years passed and I found out that the band returned with the 2007 album "Soulreaper Vol. 1". This album was intended to be a double one but the lack of funds forced the band to make plans for two separate releases. Fortunately the guys soon inked a deal with Metal On Metal Records and made this double album a reality. The "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" release is consisted of two chapters. "Evilution Rising" and "Devilution Descending". There is a connection between the two discs in the lyrical department. All songs are about ominous themes like madness, death and forms of evil. In the musical department all 22 songs are again in the same league. Catch 22 delivers crunchy and groovy modern heavy power metal. The majority of the songs are mid tempo with heavy guitars and the trademark harsh vocal performances by T.J. Berry. Catch 22 proves that you don't need to play fast in order to deliver power metal. I suggest you trust these underground metal heroes and reward their constant effort to bring good metal to the masses. WEBZINES (ITALY) ENTRATE PARALLELE webzine (www.entrateparallele.it) Rating: 7,5 / 10 Written by Avalon L’importante è partire con il piede giusto: ecco cosa devono aver pensato i ragazzi dell’etichetta italiana Metal On Metal Records al momento di decidere con quale band esordire sul mercato discografico, e devo dire che quella dei Catch 22 è stata una scelta decisamente felice! I Catch 22 non sono dei novellini in questo senso: sono in giro dal 1992 e “Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution” è il quinto full-length, che si va ad aggiungere anche ad un certo numero di demo, per la band di Marietta, Ohio. Registrati nel dicembre 2006, a causa di un budget ridotto i ventidue brani che trovate qui sotto vengono inizialmente dimezzati e registrati su un album autoprodotto dal titolo "Soulreaper Vol.1", ben accolto da critica e fans. E' solo grazie all'accordo siglato con la neonata label che, finalmente, questo doppio album vede la luce nella sua completezza, inondandoci con una riuscita miscela a base di US power/thrash metal che mi ha ricordato gli Iced Earth ed i Metal Church più in forma. Potente e melodico, aggressivo e avvincente, "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" tiene vivo l'interesse lungo i circa ottantacinque minuti su cui si snoda grazie ad un songwriting ispirato, quasi totalmente opera del cantante e chitarrista T.J. Berry, che si dimostra abilissimo anche in fase di esecuzione: la sua sei corde, tessitrice di riffs magnetici ed ottimi assoli, è ben presente su tutti i brani, senza però andare a sovrastare il vitale apporto di una sezione ritmica precisa e massiccia; molto buone anche le vocals, per un risultato finale qualitativamente molto alto! Nell'impossibilità di presentarvi un track by track di questo doppio cd (altrimenti questa rece dovremmo pubblicarla a puntate, N.d. Avalon), non posso che segnalarvi i pezzi che più mi sono rimasti impressi: dal primo disco, "Evilution Rising", cito "Soulreaper", "Atlantis Rising" e la doppietta "War Song" - "Swimming With Sharks", mentre dal secondo cd "Devilution Descending" dico sicuramente "Crawling", "Killing Floor" e "Season Of The Witch". L'unica nota negativa di questo doppio album è rappresentata, a mio parere, da una produzione non proprio all'altezza che fa perdere qualcosa in termini d'impatto a questi ottimi brani... "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" meriterebbe un otto e il mezzo punto in meno che leggete là sopra è dovuto proprio a questo! E' comunque innegabile il valore delle composizioni qui contenute, e anche dopo svariati ascolti è ancora molto forte la voglia di rituffarsi dall'inizio nell'ascolto di "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution"! Dedicate un po' di tempo ai Catch 22: se lo meritano! The important thing is to start with the right foot: that's what the guys of the Italian Metal On Metal Records must have thought when deciding with which band to enter the market, and I must say that Catch 22 was definitely a fortunate choice! Catch 22 are not newbies: they are around since 1992 and "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" is their fifth full-length, which is adding to a number of demos for the band from Marietta, Ohio. Recorded in December 2006, due to a limited budget initially only half of the twenty two songs that are here were released on a self-produced album entitled "Soulreaper Vol.1", well received by critics and fans. And it's only thanks to the agreement signed with the young label that, finally, this double album sees the light in its entirety, flooding us with an effective mixture of US power/thrash metal that reminded me of Iced Earth and Metal Church in better shape. Powerful and melodic, aggressive and fascinating, "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" keeps alive the interest for about the long 85 minutes of playing time, thanks to an inspired songwriting, almost entirely by the singer and guitarist T.J. Berry, who also demonstrates skills in the execution: his six strings, weaver of magnetic riffs and excellent solos, it is clearly present on all tracks, but without surpassing the vital input of the precise and solid rhythm section; also great vocals, for a final result of very high quality! I cannot present a "track by track" of this double CD (otherwise this review would have to be published in instalments), I can only tell you the pieces that impressed me most were: from the first disc, "Evilution Rising", I mention "Soulreaper", "Atlantis Rising", "War Song" and "Swimming With Sharks", while from the second CD, "Devilution Descending", I say definitely "Crawling", "Killing Floor" and "Season Of The Witch". The only negative side to this double album is represented, in my opinion, by a production that is not quite good enough that reduces some of the impact of these great songs... "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" deserves an eight and the half of the point subtracted is because of this! The value of the compositions herein is undeniable though, and even after several listens, the urge to listen again to "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" is still very strong! Dedicate a little time for Catch 22: they deserve it! SHAPELESS ZINE webzine (www.shapelesszine.com) Rating: 8 / 10 Written by PaulThrash I Catch 22 hanno ormai una storia più che decennale, essendo stati partoriti dalla mente di T. J. Berry, leader, chitarrista e cantante nonché songwriter della band, nel 1992, con l'intento di suonare classico heavy metal, proposito coltivato negli anni e tutt'oggi mantenuto. Inutile soffermarsi maggiormente sulla biografia; basta rendersi conto della passione che non accenna a scemare, e dopo sedici anni riesce a portare il combo a produrre questo nuovo album, interamente devoto al verbo metal, nient'altro che US Metal nella sua forma più pura. "Soulreaper" è il quarto full-length dei Catch 22, seguito a "Through Eyes Of Pain" e "Time Reveals All", rispettivamente datati 1997 e 1998 ed autoprodotti dalla band, e "Awaken" del 2003, edito dalla Molten Metal Records; l'attenzione della nuova indie italiana Metal On Metal Records, indirizzata prevalentemente alla produzione di band a cavallo fra il metal classico ed il thrash old style, ha permesso ai Catch 22 di vedere il proprio lavoro venire alla luce nella veste di doppio CD nell'aprile del 2008, dopo un anno e mezzo di attesa (il CD è stato realizzato nel dicembre del 2006). Progetto quindi sostanzioso e, in un certo senso, pretenzioso, parola che non deve essere travisata e sviata dal significato che in sede di recensione vuole assumere, ovvero progetto per il quale si è deciso di spendere anche "più energie del dovuto" ed attendere il responso di critica e pubblico per più di 80 minuti di musica, mole decisamente al di sopra della media. "Soulreaper" è stato scisso in un primo capitolo, "Evilution Rising", ed un secondo dalle atmosfere più oscure, "Devilution Descending", entrambi registrati da una formazione differente da quella che troviamo attualmente in forza; il perno attorno al quale ruotano i Catch 22, T. J. Berry, alle chitarre e voce, Mike Allen al basso ed Andy Brookhart alla batteria. Oggi affiancano il mastermind Hank Ramage al basso, Jesse Forrest alla chitarra ritmica e Joe Bailey alla batteria. Veniamo alla musica, con le composizioni che più forniscono il proprio contributo alla buona riuscita dell'album; si parte con il primo CD, "Evilution Rising", introdotto da uno dei brani migliori del lotto, ovvero la titletrack dell'intero lavoro, "Soulreaper", una classica galoppata heavy speed nella miglior tradizione imposta da Judas Priest, Savatage e "surrogati" (un paragone che continua a ronzarmi in testa rimanda ai Seven Witches di Jack Frost, con cui i qui recensiti hanno moltissimi tratti in comune; senza dimenticare che i Catch 22 sono nati prima!). Segue "Cyberchrist", ottimo compromesso fra ritmiche serrate e tempi cadenzati, in cui si accentua la vena thrash metal del terzetto USA, mentre "Atlantis Rising" esalta il lato più melodico ed US Metal oriented, con l'inserimento di molte partiture acustiche, caratteristica che contraddistingue moltissime sfaccettature di Soulreaper. "Swimming With Sharks" prosegue il discorso intrapreso in precedenza, e troviamo di seguito "-Innothing-", dal forte sapore thrash e più diretta, pur mantenendosi sullo stile della band; lo stesso vale per "Rising", che molto ricorda gli Iced Earth degli esordi e celebra una forte propensione alla melodia stile NWOBHM. Con "Crawling" e "Never" si schiudono le porte di "Devilution Descending", dando sostanza a quanto detto in precedenza riguardo alla sfumatura cupa di questo secondo CD (associabile ai connazionali Manilla Road, con cui i nostri hanno molto a che fare), e ribadendolo con "Vertigo", impreziosita da un solismo di pregevole fattura e dal sapore orientale. "Lies of the Sinner" ritorna sui lidi di "Evilution Rising", seguita a ruota da "Killing Floor" con il suo incedere a la Exciter. Passando per ottimi compromessi fra melodia e potenza quali sono le seguenti "Killing Floor", "T.F.A." e "Greed (I Can't Believe)", si arriva alla conclusione di questo lungo cammino musicale, affidata ad una breve trilogia, "Cycle of the Sick", che proclama ancora una volta le qualità del songwriting della band (per dirla tutta, la qualità del songwriting di T. J. Berry, il quale si è occupato della quasi totalità dei brani, sia a livello musicale che "lirico") e termina in crescendo un lavoro che ha il pregio di non presentare alti e bassi, ma si mantiene su coordinate costanti e decisamente gradevoli. Se l'obiettivo risulta essere riproporre in maniera personale un discorso iniziato negli anni '80 da decine, centinaia di band, si può asserire che i Catch 22 siano riusciti nell'intento; un filo conduttore lega tutti i brani, una impronta che porta il nome di Catch 22, un marchio ben impresso che dimostra come anche la riproposizione di una musica identificata da molti (troppi) come obsoleta possa risultare terreno fertile ed espressivo... insomma, una proposta che ha ancora molto da dire, e difficilmente verrà spazzata via dai nuovi trend e dalle nuove ondate "metalliche", che come tutte le mode passeranno in sordina a breve termine, a differenza dell'inossidabile heavy metal che da 30 e più anni resiste all'assalto e prosegue fiero sul proprio cammino... Keep the faith alive!!! Catch 22 has a history of more than ten years now and was the brainchild of T.J. Berry, leader, guitarist, singer and songwriter of the band who started it in 1992 with the intention of playing classic heavy metal, goal cultivated over the years and still maintained. No need to dwell more on the biography, enough to realize that this passion shows no signs of decline, after sixteen years, and manages to bring the combo to produce this new album, entirely devoted to the word metal and nothing but US Metal in its purest form. "Soulreaper" is the fourth full-length of Catch 22, after "Through Eyes Of Pain" and "Time Reveals All", dated respectively 1997 and 1998 and released by the band, and "Awaken" in 2003, released by Molten Metal Records. The interest of the new indie Italian Metal On Metal Records, focused mainly on releasing the bands playing styles ranging from the classic metal to the old school thrash, has enabled Catch 22 to see their work come to light as the double CD in April 2008, after a year and a half of waiting (the CD was recorded in December 2006). A project therefore big and, in a way, pretentious, a word that should not be mistaken and distorted from its meaning that I want to assume in this review, in other words: a project for which it was decided to spend even more energy than necessary and to wait for the response from both critics and the fans for more than 80 minutes of music, the amount definitely above the average. "Soulreaper" has been split into a first chapter, "Evilution Rising", and a second one with a darker atmosphere, "Devilution Descending", both recorded by a different formation from that which is currently in force; the pivot around which Catch 22 revolve, T.J. Berry, on guitars and vocals, Mike Allen on bass and Andy Brookhart on drums. Today, alongside the mastermind, there is Hank Ramage on bass, Jesse Forrest on rhythm guitar and Joe Bailey on drums. We come back to the music, with compositions that provide the most contribution to the success the album, starting with the first CD, "Evilution Rising", introduced by one of the best songs of the lot, that is the title track of the whole album, "Soulreaper", a classic heavy speed ride in the best tradition set by Judas Priest, Savatage and "surrogates" (a comparison that continues to hum in my head is Seven Witches of Jack Frost, with which the reviewed here have many traits in common, without forgetting that Catch 22 were born before!). Then comes "Cyberchrist", very good compromise between tight rhythms and mid-tempos, which accentuates the thrash metal vein of US trio, while "Atlantis Rising" extols the more melodic and US Metal oriented side, with the inclusion of several acoustic scores, a characteristic that distinguishes the many facets of "Soulreaper". "Swimming With Sharks" continues the conversation begun before, and then we find the following "-Innothing-", more direct and with a strong thrash flavor, yet maintaining the style of the band; and the same goes for "Rising", which recalls very much early Iced Earth and celebrates a strong propensity for melody in the NWOBHM style. With "Crawling" and "Never" the doors of "Devilution Descending" open, giving substance to what was said previously about the dark touch of the second CD (associated with fellow-countrymen Manilla Road, with which Catch 22 have a lot to do), and confirming it with "Vertigo", enriched by an excellent, tasteful solo and an oriental flavor. "Lies Of The Sinner" comes back to the shores of "Evilution Rising", followed closely by "Killing Floor" with its gait in the Exciter vein. Passing through a good compromise between power and melody that are the following "Killing Floor", "T.F.A." and "Greed (I Can't Believe"), you arrive at the conclusion of this long musical journey, entrusted to a short trilogy, "Cycles Of The Sick", which proclaims once again the quality of the songwriting of the band (to be honest, the quality of the songwriting of T.J. Berry, who took care of almost all of the songs, both on the musical and lyrical level) and ending in a crescendo that has the advantage of no ups and downs, but maintains the constant quality and is definitely very pleasing. If the aim is to revive in a personal manner a concept that was started in the '80s by tens, hundreds of bands, we can assert that Catch 22 have succeeded in it, a common thread connecting all the songs, an imprint that bears the name of Catch 22, a brand that firmly demonstrates how the revival of a music identified by many (too many) as obsolete can turn out fertile and expressive... in short, a proposal that still has much to say, is unlikely to be swept away by the new trends and new waves of "metal", which like all fashions pass away quietly in the short term, unlike stainless heavy metal that resists the assault since 30 or more years and continues proudly on its own journey... Keep the faith alive!!! WEBZINES (POLAND) CHAOS VAULT webzine (www.chaosvault.com) Rating: 5,5 / 6 Written by Kuba "Oracle" Jeśli dotychczas hasło "power metal" kojarzyło się Wam z rycerzami na smokach, o równo przyciętej grzywce, w żabocie wystającym spod zbroi, brakiem organów płciowych i wydepilowanymi łydkami - najwyższa pora zrewidować swoje zapatrywania. Catch 22 gra tradycyjny, amerykański power metal. Różni się on od europejskiego power metalu głównie tym, że ma jaja. Logiczne więc jest, iż Catch 22 też ma jaja, a oprócz nich jeszcze olbrzymie pokłady inwencji, efektem czego jest najnowsze wydawnictwo "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution". Podwójny album, czyli rzadkość ostatnimi czasy. Dwa krążki wypełnione po brzegi soczystym power/thrash metalem. Już od tytułowego "Soulreaper" czuje się, że w żyłach płynie im surówka prosto huty zamiast krwi - melodyjny, balladowy wstęp to tylko zmyłka, bo zaraz po nim wchodzą rozpędzone riffy, wpadające w ucho refreny, zmiany temp, fenomenalny (nie boję się użyć tego słowa) wokal T.J. Berry'ego. Nie inaczej jest w "Cyberchrist", kolejnym świetnym utworze. Inna perełka na najnowszej produkcji Catch 22 - "Dis Con Nec Ted" cechuje się progresywnym podejściem do sprawy, trochę na modłę Queensryche - utwór wolniejszy, bardziej przestrzenny, z niegłupim tekstem… Lecimy dalej. Krótka szósteczka pachnie mi późniejszym Iron Maiden, świetnie się zaczynającym, z dość gwałtownym końcem. Manilla Road - echa tej kapeli słyszę z kolei w "Swimming With Sharks". Ponadto w tym kawałku Berry daje taką popisówkę, że jak pieprzniecie szczęką o podłogę to Wam już żaden Protefix nie pomoże. A to dopiero minęła jedna trzecia wydawnictwa, więc co będzie dalej? Ha, dalej jest tak samo dobrze! Klangowanie basu w "Doomsday Scenerio" sprawia, iż zdaje mi się, że zaraz usłyszę dalsze takty "The Clairvoyant" Ejronów. I o ile kawałki z pierwszej płyty mają bardziej heavy/epickie zacięcie, co właśnie przedstawiłem po krótce, to już krążek numer dwa, charakteryzuje się trochę mocniejszym podejściem do tematu. "Saviour Self" czy "Crawling" spokojne podchodzą pod thrash'owe patenty Testament. "T.F.A." to wzorowany na solowych dokonaniach Halforda czy nawet jego Fight numer, chyba najbrutalniejszy na całym albumie o wiele mówiącym tytule (bo rozwinięcie oznacza Total Fuckin Annihilation). Dalej mamy balladowy (choć nie na długo, hehe) "Greed (I Can't Believe)", natomiast ostatnie trzy kawałki stanowią trylogię kończącą krążek. Słówko o produkcji - zajebista, mięsista, brzmiąca wprost idealnie dla takiego grania. Obie płyty trwają ponad osiemdziesiąt minut, ale nie wiadomo, kiedy ten czas mija. Jasne - jeśli ktoś nie lubi takiej muzyki, to będzie dla niego niespełna półtorej godziny mordęgi. Ja nie mam z tym najmniejszych problemów. Zresztą jak, cholera, można nie lubić takiej muzyki?! "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" to krążek świetny, windujący Catch 22 w górę, coraz bliżej panteonu zajmowanego przez zespoły pokroju Judas Priest. Z całą pewnością jest to jeden z najlepszych krążków tego roku, w tym stylu grania. Zwala z nóg… If the words "power metal" bring to your mind the image of dragon-riding knights with nicely cropped fringes, jabots sticking our from under the armour, the lack of sex organs, and depilated legs, it's high time to revise your opinion. Catch 22 plays traditional, American power metal. It differs from the European power metal mainly by the fact that it has balls. It's logical that Catch 22 also have balls and, apart from that, loads of inventiveness, which resulted in the new album "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution". A double CD, so a rarity these days. Two discs filled up to the brim with juicy power/thrash metal. Already since the title track "Soulreaper" you can feel that there's molten metal straight from the smelting factory instead of blood running through their veins - melodic, ballad-like intro is only a deceiving trick, because right after it enter the fast racing riffs, catchy choruses, tempo changes and phenomenal (I don't hesitate to use this word) vocals of T.J. Berry. "Cyberchrist" follows along these lines, the next excellent song. Another gem on the new Catch 22 album - "Dis Con Nec Ted" shows a more progressive approach, a little bit in the vein of Queensryche - a slower track, more spacey, with interesting lyrics... OK, what's next... The short track no. 6 smells like newer Iron Maiden, a brilliant start and a quite abrupt ending. Manilla Road - I can hear the echoes of this band in "Swimming With Sharks". Moreover, in this song Berry gives such a show that when your jaw drops on the floor, no Protefix will help you. And only one third of the album has passed, so what will follow? Ha, then it's just as good! Bass clanging in "Doomsday Scenario" makes me feel that I'll hear the tacts of "The Clairvoyant" by Maiden next. And while the songs from the first disc have a more heavy/epic feel, that I just presented above shortly, the second disc has a stronger approach to the subject. "Saviour Self" or "Crawling" come close to the thrash patterns of Testament. "T.F.A.", a track inspired by the solo albums of Halford or even by his Fight, is probably the most brutal on the whole album and with the title that says it all ('cause it means "Total Fuckin' Annihilation"). Next we've got a ballad-like (however not for a long time, haha) "Greed (I Can't Believe)" and the last three songs form a trilogy concluding this disc. A word about the production: awsome, meaty, sounding just perfect for this style. Both CDs clock over 80 minutes, but this time flies very fast. Sure, if somebody doesn't like such music, it will be almost an hour and a half of an ordeal for him. I have no problem at all with it. But, damn it, how can you not like such music anyway!? "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" is a brilliant album, hoisting Catch 22 up, closer to the Pantheon occupied by bands like Judas Priest. Without a doubt it's one of the best albums released this year, in this genre. It knocks you down! WEBZINES (SWEDEN) METAL COVENANT webzine (www.metalcovenant.com) Rating: 7,5 / 10 Written by Michael the MettleAngel 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. WEBZINES (USA) MAXIMUM METAL webzine (www.maximummetal.com) Rating: 4,5 / 5 Written by EC Catch 22 is a band that I have followed since their conception. The Ohio band released two albums before establishing themselves as a real powerhouse on their third release, "Awaken", recorded in 2003 for the now defunct Molten Metal USA. The group has gone through some lineup changes, label confusion, and a rather bizarre incident with their last album, "Soulreaper Vol. 1". Apparently the band recorded "Soulreaper" as a 22 track album. Due to lack of funding and a solid label the group released part of the album as "Soulreaper Vol. 1" independently in 2007 as a promotional item to land a record deal. The CD was sold through various retailers like CD Baby and Impulse Music. The project worked and the band landed a deal with the promising Metal On Metal Records. The label and band put together the full "Soulreaper" sessions in a 2CD set known collectively as "Soulreaper: Evilution/Deviluion". This set has been re-organized with tracks from the "Vol. 1" recording scattered through discs 1 and 2 along with the remaining undheard eleven tracks. The same album cover from "Vol. 1" remains here but the inlay and tray liner looks to be different. Fans will see the consistent evolution of the group from an aggressive metal suit to the more solid, traditional outfit worn today with this album. The band definitely still packs a pistol, delivering bullet after bullet of menacing down tuned power metal but at the same time they mix it up with what I would consider more European overtones. Think of a Firewind or Messiah's Kiss crossed with the profound excellence of early Savatage and mid-era Jag Panzer. Vocalist T.J. Berry is right on the money with his mid-range command, occasionally reaching some higher chords reminscent of Overlorde's Bobby Lucas. The group hit on up tempo tracks, melodic songs, traditional metal formulas, and the obligatory metal anthems. Fans of 80s US heavy metal can find no wrong here. Collectively this is the best album from the band thus far. The group continue their push into the upper tiers of US metal. If Metal On Metal can sell enough plastic then this band could be heading to Europe to cash in on some big fests instead of playing basement shows. NO LIFE 'TIL METAL webzine (www.nolifetilmetal.com) Rating: - / - Written by Scott Waters Catch 22 are one of the unsung heros of the metal underground. They've been toiling in the metal scene for years releasing several solid, traditional metal albums. "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution" is the next chapter in the Catch 22 saga, and could very well be their crowning achievement. This double CD contains 22 songs that were originally meant to be released in two parts "Evilution Rising" (CD 1) and "Devilution Descending" (CD 2). In 2007 the band released Part 1 independently. In 2008 Italian label Metal On Metal Records picked up the band. Instead of releasing Part 2, all 22 songs are released here on this two CD collection. (Sounds like one of those Time/Life commercials. Order now for two payments of only $19.85!) "Soulreaper" is guitar-driven, aggressive heavy metal that walks a fine line between groove oriented metal, classic Judas Priest-inspired metal and even classic speed/thrash metal like early Metal Church or Vicious Rumors. Disc one stars off with a melodic intro before kicking up the tempo and breaking into a full throttle rocker. "Cyberchrist" is up next and is one of the standout cuts on disc one. This songs reminds me of the glory days of real power metal and bands like Metal Church, Steel Prophet and Vicious Rumors. Heavy Metal at its finest. I personally found disc two to be my favorite of the two. The songs are dynamic and quite diverse featuring plenty of memorable hooks. The slow grind of "Crawling" reminded me of Sacred Reich, or even Cowboys-era Pantera. "Never" slows things down even more to a Black Sabbath inspired doom feel. Other songs like "Vertigo" and "T.F.A.", which stands for Total F**king Annihilation", are straight up thrashers. "Greed (I Can't Believe)" starts off as an acoustic based song featuring only a guitar and vocalist T.J. Berry before breaking into a heavy, mid-paced song complete with deep, menacing, thrash metal vocals. Berry has a raspy voice with plenty of charisma and range. His mid-range vocals are aggressive and thrashy, he can also belt out some of those high pitched metal screams as well. After listening to this CD several times I was still perplexed as to who Berry reminded me of. He's certainly not a clone of any well known singer but his vocals do have some similarities to Matt Barlow at times and at other times to Jon Oliva and Chuck Billy. For an independent release, "Soulreaper" is a more than impressive release. Even the packaging is totally progressional with wicked cover art by artist Jowita Kaminska and a 12-page full color insert.

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