With only 6 tracks, Catbite wastes no time at all demonstrating why they are among the best, most beloved, and most popular ska bands in the scene today. It may feel a little short, but every song on Doom Garden is phenomenal, showing off a broad range of sounds and influences. I’d argue that Doom Garden blows their previous work out the window. Luna’s vocals are more powerful across this whole album than ever before, the sound is stellar, and they invited phenomenal collaborations that are executed flawlessly. At only 6 songs, “Doom Garden” may be a little short, and leave you wanting for more, but in just 6 songs, Catbite shows off a wider range of sounds and influences and every single song is a masterpiece. Seriously, the sound quality is unmatched.
I’m often curious how bands choose which songs to release as singles to promote an album. In this case, they released the first three tracks in order as promotional singles- which may feel like an odd choice, but after listening to the album repeatedly, I think I understand the thought process. If all 6 songs are perfect, it doesn’t matter which three you choose for promotion, so just use the first three. There is absolutely no dropoff in the quality of the back half of this album. Six songs performed to perfection, no waste, no fill.
From the moment the album begins with the vocal “First time in Denver” with singer Brittany Luna holding the note on Denver, the album feels both powerful and epic. The keys and the bass in this song are terrific throughout the song, but the keyboard solo by Kayleigh Malloy is one of the greatest key solos in any ska song. The entire song is practically flawless, and easily one of my favorite Catbite songs to date.
While the first track is the same brand of rocksteady ska punk that Catbite is famous for, the second track is a much slower jam, and features Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy on backing vocals. The rhythm is hypnotic and the duets and callbacks on the vocals are mesmerizing. This is such a damn good pairing and I had no idea I needed this in my life. With some slow sexy guitars and simple upstrokes, this song is brilliant.
“Put ‘em Away” shakes things up even further with the inclusion of horns- something famously absent from Catbite’s ska songs, their foray into the land of ska with horns goes perfectly, and it actually allows the guitars to take a bigger role in the song. This song also features some of the best drums on the album, where they really take center stage, in such an upbeat-sounding song.
While the addition of Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy is the bigger name in the collaborations on this album, having Zayna Youssef from Sweet Pill in “Eyes Wide” may be the more significant collab. This track is a much more aggressive power punk-ska song that is by far the most aggressive track on the album, but it also features a really sexy breakdown before getting heavy and aggressive through the end of the track. These songs feel like they were written to show off the talents of every member of the band. Bass, guitar, drums, keys, and vocals, all come together to expertly deliver moods, vibes, and emotions, in a way that few bands can match.
The next track is “Deteriorate”, a slow epic with slow haunting vocals and stripped-down instrumentation- with no drums or keys, leaving the listener to focus on the vocals, which highlight the range, and helps to set up the finale in “Remediate”.
The album ends in a faster, power pop punk and ska track, that feels responsive to the previous song and reflective in tone. It’s such a powerful closer and it ties the album together in a way that feels extremely full. It’s rare that a six-song album feels as complete as “Doom Garden”. It hits all the right notes and leaves The listener satisfied.
In addition to this amazing album, Catbite is going to be touring Nonstop this Summer and Fall, from the East Coast and Midwest US in May to a European tour in June, a UK tour in early July, a West Coast US tour and another European tour later in the year. Check here for their tour dates and see these amazing songs live!
Written by Gimp Leg
