Cat Temper - Cat Out Of Hell
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Cat Temper’s Cat Out Of Hell is a guitar-fuelled attack on the senses that oozes power, energy and a profound sense of forward motion. The music interlocks mighty guitars, leaping synth lines and intense percussion into a solid wall of life and strength. Adrenaline pumps through the music and all the elements conspire to send the listener's heart rate through the roof.
The guitar work on Cat Out Of Hell hits with ferocious force and seething strength.There’s an enormous amount of power in the guitars along with a rough-edged grit that fills them with character. Cat Temper has made the guitars into a physical force that imbue each track with muscle and sinew, contributing to the forceful nature of the album.
Cat Out Of Hell sees synths deployed in a way that suits the blistering nature of the album. The synth choices that Cat Temper has made all add to a sense of bursting energy and dynamic motion as they trumpet and flash through the other musical elements. I enjoy how the exuberance of the synths combines with the sheer propulsion of the guitars to keep the energy levels high.
Another strong aspect of Cat Out Of Hell is the melodic writing on the album. Cat Temper’s melodies are well-considered, memorable and contribute to the overall feeling of the album. The melodic content has a similarly energizing and dynamic feeling to the other musical elements and adds to the surging power of the whole recording.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Purradise By The Dashboard Light” starts off with rapidly leaping, energetic electric guitar arpeggios arcing upwards before massive power chords growl. A churning synth pattern adds more forward motion to the track, the high synth singing out in a triumphantly rising line. The synth pulse becomes rough edged and urgent as an engine roars around it. I enjoy the sheer dynamism radiating from this track.
Now the drums pound and throb and flashing, bursting synth chords adds light to the proceedings. The chords fly out beneath the insistent synth pulse and battering drums push the track onwards. A section with metallic percussion and a hollow, rattling drum is driven by the consistently energetic beat. The guitar churns out a rapidly spinning series of textural arpeggios and shimmering synth chords rise.
The track launches back into the “A" section along with the addition of snarling guitar. A segment in which brassy, tense synths climb in ever-tightening lines breaks into warmer, swirling synth arpeggios below gritty, slicing guitar. The music returns to the propulsive, pulse pounding synth pattern before a rapid drum flourish brings the track to a close.
Snarling electric guitar moves in sharply cutting lines and drums batter with ferocious energy to open “Hot Catootie.” The guitar is full of hard-hitting energy as it moves in a throbbing wall and nasal sounding, high synth wriggles in between the bursts of powerful guitar.
The guitar’s heft and the propulsive percussion add surging energy as flashing synth chords vibrate. A segment in which elevated, unique sounding synth writhes moves into the bending, leaping lead synth. The devious nature of the main melody is entertaining for me.
The ferocious guitar tide washes in as the high synth snakes in a minor key melody. Spinning arpeggios fly upwards in bright arcs. The guitar’s presence is dominant and the drums are on full attack. As the song winds down, the guitar’s blunt force is broken by trembling synth bursts and the dancing, wiggling melody sings on distorted synths.
“One More Hiss” commences as round-sounding, pulsing synth moves over broken, rough-edged bass and quickly bouncing drums. Now a steadily ticking percussive trickle moves in to add shape to the music. Twanging, jangling guitar carries a melancholy melody over the uneven pulsation below it.
The next minor key, broad-sounding melody brims pleasingly with mystery and uncertain intent. Dramatic vocal synths add more power as metallic, bending synth roams.The guitar churns powerfully and the writhing lead synth melody is devious and dark. Huge walls of guitar float out over the pulsating bass and come to an end with flashing instrument that echoes in the winding lines into silence.
Overpowering blocks of heavy guitar grunt into the track, lending an enormous presence to the music as “Bad For Good” starts. The guitar is joined by shattering drums and they blend into a snarling assault on the senses. Glittering, glassy synth flashes in carrying a melody that mingles light and shadow.
The guitar slashes in, a ragged sonic wound and wobbling synth punctuates the shimmering chime instrument. I enjoy the way in which the guitar is a raging creature split by descending, threatening higher synth as the drums and bass form a chest-punching wall.
This is music with weight and muscle to it. String-like synths saw in to create more terrified sounds as dark bass swirls and the guitar and drums form a maelstrom. Leaping, digital sounding arpeggios whirl through and the bursting chimes flash as the growling voice of the guitar lacerates and fades.
“Whiskered Youth” opens on an exceedingly deep, throbbing bass undulation as a sweeping series of bright, rough-edged notes floats above it. Warming, rich synth flows in to add depth and the guttural wall of a powerful guitar adds shadows while the massive drums slowly throb.
Now medium-high, gritty synth carries a melody pleasingly full of bursting energy and dramatic power as oscillating bass adds motion. A repeating low pulse shapes the music as higher, swirling synth carries a broken and yearning melody.
The guitar climbs in a darkly majestic sweep as open, hollow synth trickles in quick, light notes for contrast. Tense, high synth calls out in a minor key melody that flickers with a sense of adventure before the music returns to a more threatening feeling. The track ends on quick, shining synth bursts and drums.
Gleaming synth calls out in rapidly moving patterns that create a dynamic pulse as “Feral Angel” launches. A kick drum hits before snarling, deep guitar adds churning motion and the full drum kit comes in to increase the track’s energy further.
A trumpeting synth calls out in a motion-filled, uplifting melody as the guitars propel the music along. The brassy lead synth melody speaks of adventure and excitement as it charges dynamically. The track enters a segment in which deep, gruff synth moves in blocks before the trumpeting synth cries out again.
I enjoy the JRPG vibes that I get from the arcing lead synth melody. Guitar flashes in a yearning line and trembling, bright synth moves in rippling blocks. Cascading, glittering arpeggios whirl and the resonant, powerful guitar raises the energy level as quick tapping sounds shift in the background and the track fades out on flashing, trumpeting synth.
“Cat Out of Hell” comes to life as heavy, seething synth pulses steadily into a howling void and bright, broad synth climbs in powerful notes over the pulse. Gigantic, pounding drums and dense bass are blasted by a sweeping sonic tide. Hollow, shining synth notes flash out again in that climbing line as the solid throb moves far below. A distorting, medium-high synth carries a minor key melody with a thrillingly evil sense of triumph over the pounding weight and propulsion of the percussion.
Shivers of shadowy sound move before the melody takes on a more uplifting tone. There’s a return to the minor key threat as flashing sounds sweep through and the heaving weight keeps pushing the track on. The guitar roars out in brooding power chords below the dancing synth above it. The guitar chugs while the elevated synth twists through and the drums batter on. The track is massive and muscled now as it drives on to the end.
Conclusion
Cat Temper has combined an energetic, hard rocking sensibility with strong melodies, atmospheric synths and an ever-present sense of fun to produce an album that oozes personality. I am always interested to hear what this innovative artist comes up with and Cat Out Of Hell doesn’t disappoint.
You can find Cat Temper’s music here: https://cattemper.bandcamp.com
