REVIEW: Catalysis - Serpentine
- Zuzanna Pazola
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
For a band that has spent the last few years grinding away in the UK underground, CATALYSIS sound remarkably unconcerned with subtlety on Serpentine. The Dundee metal outfit’s latest EP is direct, furious, and completely unrelenting, but what makes it stand out is how carefully that intensity is controlled. Across just five tracks, CATALYSIS delivers something that feels sharp and focused rather than bloated: a compact release that wastes no time saying exactly what it wants to say.
Given the upheaval the band experienced in 2024, following the departure of three long-term members, there would have been every reason for Serpentine to still have an air of uncertainty or transience to it. Instead, it sounds like the work of a band that has firmly rediscovered its confidence. The EP opens with Tremors, which launches straight into a wall of relentless instrumentals and vocals that refuse to let up. It’s an assertive start, throwing listeners straight into a track that thrives on sheer momentum, where everything feels tightly wound and urgent.
Futile follows with equal ferocity, but its defining feature is drummer Calum Rennie’s performance. The percussion drives the track forward with a fierce urgency, building on that sense of momentum from the previous track. The sharp instrumental breakdown in the second half of the track opens everything up, allowing the guitars and rhythm section to really stretch out and make the impact land harder. It’s one of the EP’s most memorable moments, demonstrating how CATALYSIS use structure and pacing to elevate their brutality, rather than simply piling it on.
Title track Serpentine leans heavily into a riff-driven onslaught, and does so to excellent effect. The guitars really dominate the sonic landscape, delivering a barrage of weighty, tightly controlled riffs that anchor the track’s sinister tone. Lyrically, the imagery is particularly striking. Lines like “snake, smother, shed your skin, become another” conjure up a vivid and unsettling portrait of manipulation and transformation, reinforcing the song’s exploration of coercive betrayal. It’s a centrepiece that feels incredibly significant, both musically and thematically.
Damocles, the longest track on the EP at just over five minutes, expands the scope even further. Rather than simply pushing the tempo, it builds atmosphere, pulling the listener deeper into its dark, tragic energy. There’s a sense of scale here that makes the track feel almost cinematic. The band’s ability to sustain such intensity across a longer runtime without losing focus speaks volumes about their control as songwriters, and makes this track a particular standout of this EP.
Closing track Deathblow wastes no time in bringing the EP to its final, furious conclusion. Launching immediately from the aftermath of Damocles, it feels like a direct continuation of the energy that precedes it. Musically, it’s fast and aggressive, but its lyrical focus gives it additional weight. Turning its focus toward figures who abuse positions of trust for their own benefit, the track channels a raw rage that feels particularly resonant given the bleak tone of much of the modern world. It’s a ruthless way to end the record.
With this level of sustained brutality, it would be easy for the tracks to blur together into something indistinct. What stops that from happening is the constant shift in vocal delivery from Andrew Downie. His screams are vicious enough on their own, but when they give way to half-spoken, half-sung lines, the delivery sounds almost tinged with malice, creating genuinely memorable moments without sacrificing any of the aggression.
Taken as a whole, Serpentine is a compact yet incredibly impactful release. The EP never overstays its welcome, and works equally well as both a statement for existing fans and an entry point for new listeners. It’s undeniably heavy and at times brutally intense, but it never becomes so overwhelming that it risks alienating those discovering the band for the first time. If anything, it highlights why CATALYSIS have been steadily building momentum, and suggests that their days as one of the UK metal scene’s best-kept secrets may not last much longer.
Score: 9/10
Serpentine will be released on 17th April 2026 via self-release.
Words: Zuzanna Pazola
Photos: Catalysis
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