CATHUBODUA – Interbellum
Release Date: 23rd February 2024
Label: Massacre Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Symphonic Metal
FFO: DIABULUS IN MUSICA, Worlds Beyond, Imperia, Xandria.
Review By: Mark Waight
Interbellum is the excellent brand-new release from Belgian Symphonic Metal band CATHUBODUA and at just over 30 minutes long it falls somewhere in between a full album and an EP for me. That said, every single song is beautifully constructed and crafted to make Interbellum a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile listening experience.
CATHUBODUA are so much more than a Symphonic Metal band, because there is much here that fans of more traditional Heavy Hetal and Folk Metal will love too. Their use of superb guitar melodies and Sara Vanderhayden’s fabulous vocal range lends itself well to several metal genres and gives them great scope to recruit fans from much further afield.
CATHUBODUA is Sara Vanderheyden (vocals and orchestrations), Arvid Vermote (violin), Robin Ritzen (guitars), Peter Thielemans (bass) and Harald Bouten (drums) along with guest musician Mathijis Ignoul (acoustic guitar on Foretelling, Goddess Fallacy and The Mirror).
Effigy of Aftermath is a very atmospheric and dark track that truly conjures up images of the grief that follows apocalyptic events. A superb and enjoyable opening symphonic masterclass in metal.
The acoustic and gentle opening to Foretelling gently takes us by the hand and leads us into a symphonic folk fusion of high calibre vocals with a booming soundtrack to match. Traditional and modern instruments work together in perfect harmony.
The violin in Will Unbroken cry’s out in unison with some rather deft guitar playing that steadily builds up the emotion in this highly charged and electrically paced tune.
Amidst Gods ratchets up the pace and the bass too, generating a great wall of sound, with Sarah Vanderheyden’s operatic style vocals adding that subtle sprinkle of gold dust required to make this a very inspirational piece of music. The piano playing is also divine.
The Mirror is a hauntingly lovely song which just lingers so tenderly on the ears as you are tantalised by dreamy vocals and a weeping violin throughout this outstandingly heavenly track. Love it, absolute musical poetry!
CATHUBODUA brings it all to a close with Goddess Fallacy, an epic composition which draws strength from the entire band in a classic, tightly gelled finale. This is what Symphonic Metal is all about, as the band put it all on the line in my favourite track of the album (Just)!
Interbellum is wonderfully crafted with great individual skill to produce a classic compendium of Symphonic metal with a few extra tasty morsels to enhance the overall experience. CATHUBODUA are certainly a band on the rise, and anyone who is a fan of this genre will absolutely adore this album. It’s a big thumbs up for me!
(4 / 5)
