Catalyst Symphony - The Light Inside EP

1

Eden 5:16
Eden
by Catalyst Symphony
Share link
Info

0:00/5:16
2

Nova 4:57
Nova
by Catalyst Symphony
Share link
0:00/4:57
3

Salvation 6:30
Salvation
by Catalyst Symphony
Share link
0:00/6:30

The Light Inside

‘The Light Inside’ is the debut EP from Glasgow symphonic metal act Catalyst Symphony, perfectly encapsulating their signature style of high-energy melodic metal, fused with Celtic folk-tinged string quartets and professional mezzo-soprano Wiktoria Wizner’s soaring operatic vocals.

The world’s fastest love song Eden draws further influence from the riotous catchiness of pop-punk and synth-driven metal; while Nova — a rousing call to arms for the rights of women, LGBTQ people, and all those who fight tyranny — pulls from metalcore and Japanese power metal and soundtracks.

To fully demonstrate Catalyst Symphony’s diversity, the final song, Salvation, is a more thoughtful progressive piece, laden with softer intimate moments where the talents of multi-instrumentalist Maya MacAdam shine through delicate harp and gorgeous string harmonies, and a triumphant coda displaying Wiktoria’s dazzling vocal virtuosity.

The EP was funded by Creative Scotland and recorded and produced at Orpheus Studios by Richard Campbell, producer of Fellowship’s acclaimed debut, The Saberlight Chronicles. Richard’s two decades of industry experience and incredible ear for detail elevated the final product far beyond the band’s wildest dreams, particularly his excellent capabilities with drum and vocal recording.

Purchase The Light Inside now!

Eden

Music: Chris Armstrong. Lyrics: Chris armstrong / Wiktoria Wizner

The world’s fastest love song! Eden is a tribute and promise to the people in all of our lives who make the world a better place for us. Infectiously catchy, Eden’s main riff blends the memorable guitar harmony hooks of melodic metal with bouncy synths and energetic pop-punk style rhythms. All leading to the truly titanic chorus, with strings, guitars and synths all playing counterpoint to a 15-voice choir, spearheaded by Wiktoria’s legendarily powerful delivery.

Songwriter Chris Armstrong: “I didn’t tell my partner that this song is kind of about them until we debuted it. On our 10th anniversary. The line “Truth and Grace” before the second chorus is a rough translation of their name, and I still cherish the smile on their face when they realised I’d slipped that in there. Musically I’m quite proud of how a song that’s so fast and heavy all the way through still has so much contrast. Not always easy to achieve! Like the fast bouncy synth line against the slower guitar harmony, or how the chorus has so many busy background instruments, but Wikki holds the vocals with such length and power.”

Keys / Fiddle player Maya MacAdam: "I love the drum breakdown in Eden best out of the whole EP - when performing it live Darren nails it every time and then I get to come back in with a dirty synth sound and vibe out. It speaks to a primal dancey part of me."

Vocalist / Lyricist Wiktoria Wizner: "My favourite part is in Eden, and isn’t even one of the lines I wrote! It’s the vocalisation at the end, it’s entirely mine, right from the bottom of my rotten heart."

Watch the official music video!

NOVA

Music & Lyrics: Chris Armstrong

The perfect soundtrack to the AMV your 14 year-old self is still making in their head, Nova answers the age-old question, “what if a metal band wrote the world’s coolest anime battle song?” Featuring truly jaw-dropping vocal acrobatics, gorgeous string harmonies, and driving metalcore riffs, Nova gives you the energy to slay any demons you may be facing, even if that’s just facing another day. You got this.

Songwriter Chris Armstrong: “Nova came about because my friends kept teasing me that my songs sounded like anime battle music! I was getting so annoyed that I decided to go, “OK you wanna hear an anime battle song? Check this out!” Naturally, something that started out as a kind of joke at my own expense ended up being a song I’m sincerely very proud of.

Nova also has some of my favourite lyrics I’ve written! The second verse is a rearrangement of quotes from several historical figures I admire, like Martin Luther King Jr and Andreas Bonifacio.”

Drummer Darren Spence: "My favourite part on the EP is the instrumental section in Nova. I just love the way it builds and builds through the solo into the harmony."

Watch the official Lyric Video here!

Salvation

Music: Chris Armstrong; Lyrics: Chris / Jonty Armstrong

Showcasing a more measured and thoughtful side to Catalyst Symphony’s sound, Salvation is a winding progressive metal epic condensed to a “meager” six-and-a-half minutes. The diversity of sound is on full display, with slower, intimate sections decorated by harp and cello, building to a triumphant chorus and blistering solo, all culminating in an extended coda for Wiktoria’s vocal virtuosity to truly shine.

Songwriter Chris Armstrong: “This one always makes me a bit emotional. I wrote Salvation with my sibling when we were still teenagers, and it’s a bit surreal performing it live now that I’m 30!

Part of what makes it so special to me is the way other musicians have helped it grow and evolve. I initially wrote the violin part just to demonstrate how the guitar harmony at the end would go, then an old bandmate suggested using that as the intro, and hearing how Maya transformed that into such a beautiful harp and string part is always stunning to me. And Wikki’s finale! Would you believe she totally improvised that in the first ever Catalyst rehearsal?! Just asked, “oh, can I do my own thing there?” and left my jaw on the floor.”