Cat Fey – Vocals
Kenny Boufadene – Guitars, Vocals
Håkan Strind – Drums
“Hailing from Varberg/Gothenburg Sweden and formed in 2012, We Are
The Catalyst are the latest in a long and proud tradition of Swedish
hard rock and metal bands. And like Ghost and Meshuggah before them,
We Are The Catalyst are built on a creative independence that forbids
anyone the ability to rightfully compare their sound to another band.
While We Are The Catalyst have a wildly dark, inventive sound all to
their own, you wouldn’t be faulted for seeing the connection to nu-metal
and early 2000’s hard rock.
The band’s strengths- vocals, catchy metal hooks and wicked
instrumental chemistry position them as the new coming of the
more one-dimensional aspects of that era while showing just how
well done those ideas can be executed when done with integrity.
Since releasing their debut album, Monuments nearly four years ago,
We Are The Catalyst have built a reputation as one of Sweden’s most
promising rock and metal bands. With their upcoming album, Ephemeral
set to drop early next year, the first single “Predators” is the
perfect wetting of the appetite to raise anticipation and intrigue.
If Ephemeral contains tracks half as good as “Predators”, We Are The
Catalyst can very well find themselves sitting a top the mountain of
rock and metal bands of this era.”
“Perseverance” (Fourth album – released November 26th 2021) on Spotify
Contact:
Label : Raw Street Noise/ Flick Records (Co-owned by Despotz Records) – johannes@flickagency.se
Publisher : Flick Records – johannes@flickagency.se
UK Booking agent: Matt Seddon / Spectre Records – info@spectrerecords.co.uk
Band: info@wearethecatalystofficial.com
Download latest press photos for print & logo here
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MUSIC VIDEOS
LIVE VIDEOS
UPCOMING SHOWS
PAST SHOWS
2020
9 APR – BRUKET – VARBERG, SWEDEN
2019
UK HEADLINE TOUR FEBRUARY 2019
15th – Whitchurch – Percys Bar
16th – Peterborough – The Met Lounge
17th – Blackpool – The Waterloo
18th – Edinburgh – Bannermans
19th – Newcastle – Trillians
20th – Huddersfield – The Parish
21st – Birmingham – Subside
22nd – Cheltenham – The Cotswold Inn
23rd – Norwich – B2 Venue
24th – London – The Unicorn
2018
29 DEC – HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN w/ ELEINE & FOLLOW THE CIPHER
11 AUG – DIRTY DAYS OF SUMMER. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (Festival)
10 AUG – MALMÖFESTIVALEN, SWEDEN
15 JUN – SUBKULTFESTIVALEN, SWEDEN
2015
07 MAR – BELSEPUB, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
CHINA TOUR 2015
29 APR – SCHOOL BAR, BEIJING, CHINA
30 APR – JIANGHU BAR, BEIJING, CHINA
01 MAY- TEMPLE BAR, BEIJING, CHINA
02 MAY – DDC (DUSK DAWN CLUB), BEIJING, CHINA
03 MAY – STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL – PLANET STAGE, SHANGHAI, CHINA
04 MAY – INFERNO CLUB. SHANGHAI, CHINA
07 AUG – BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR (FESTIVAL), DERBYSHIRE, UK.
04 SEP – STICKY FINGERS, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
UK TOUR 2015
23 OCT – BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE (SUPPORTING DELAIN)
24 OCT – CHELMSFORD – ASYLUM
26 OCT – LONDON – BLACK HEART
27 OCT – FOLKESTONE – HARP RESTRUNG
28 OCT – NORTHAMPTON – KING BILLY
29 OCT – NORWICH – B2
30 OCT – NOTTINGHAM – DOGHOUSE
31 OCT – SHEFFIELD – ROCKING CHAIR
01 NOV – HULL – O’RILEYS
03 NOV – CONSETT – CLUB THAT ROCKS
05 NOV – LANCASTER – BOBBIN
06 NOV – BOLTON – ALMA
07 NOV – WORKINGTON LOUNGE 41
6 DEC – PLANET ROCKSTOCK FESTIVAL, SOUTH WALES
Press about WATC
“WE ARE THE CATALYST has fulfilled their purpose to be a guiding light
in the dark and then some with this release. – “Ephemeral” showcases
the beautiful sides of the shadows and to never be afraid of them.”
Metal-temple.com – Score 10/10 – Review of Ephemeral.
She (Cat Fey) has the most wonderful voice and it´s one that allows
the listener to immerse themselves in both song and lyric. Yes, they are
dark songs, that can not be ignored, but somehow the dark (and it´s
something that returned time and time again as I wrote this) is
never imposing, but rather is used to inspire you to open up to your
own feelings and let them out whilst listening to the music. The wall of
sound, where the music simply fills each of the headphone speakers as
you sit listening, no, absorbing the music, is truly uplifting.
A cold dark January morning feels like nothing when the light of
WATC cuts through the gloom.
– Powerplay magazine March 2019 – Score 9/10
“WHA?!? Yes. We were kicked in the face and thrown down that stairs on
that high castle beyond the mountains.
WE ARE THE CATALYST is a mix of what Evanescence brought to the game,
and the vibes that made Linkin Park tremendous. ‘Predators’ is So good.
It’s a ‘cleansing’ in a way. Our cobwebs from our head are broken.
The haze is gone.Cat Fey’s vocals strength helps propel the song into new heights.
Fast rising is a correct assessment for WATC. Look out for more
singles prior to the upcoming ‘Ephemeral’ due to drop early 2019.
Hell’s yea!”
– Comeherefloyd.com – Predators single review
“We Are The Catalyst are a shining light in the rock and metal world
right now. It´s rare to find a band who can hook you and captivate you
as well as this band do. By combining soaring vocal lines and catchy
melodies, We Are The Catalyst have set the benchmark for modern
metal bands – providing an intense and awe inspiring listening
experience that will have you begging for more. Their new album Elevation
is going to take the world by force!”
– Matt Seddon – UK Promoter
“Spoiler alert: it kicks ass. In fact, this is exactly how to present a
sophomore album”
– Metalstorm.net Review of Elevation
“10 / 10 Mind-blowing vocals… the most exciting prospect to emerge out
of the Nordic nation in the last few years”
– GMA
“We Are the Catalyst are an insatiable band that put memorability
and singalong chorus together with beefy riffs and some incredible
moments.”
– Sam Liddicott – musicmusingsandsuch
BIOGRAPHY
Catalyst: a person or thing that precipitates an event or change.
Swedens Alternative Metal/Rock act We Are The Catalyst was formed in November of 2012 in Varberg, Sweden, with the intent goal of being a light in the dark for those who need it the most, and in only a few years they have managed to stir up quite the buzz around their unique blend of Rock, Metal, Pop and Electronic elements that are interwoven in a natural sounding symbiosis.
Melodic, heavy, and with lyrics that often deals with the darkness in – and – outside of us, and of the urge to confront and change oneselves despite, and, because of that darkness.
Fronted by the unique Cat Fey, with her instantly likeable melodies, story-telling ability, strength and voice made for huge pop songs, they manage to stand out in the vast number of Rock and Metal bands today. Along with the force and power of the music this makes for a unique combination. And they manage to prove it over and over. Something that the numbers tell.
- Since the start, WATC have received more than 6 million streamed songs on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and other platforms, about 1 million views on Youtube, and have had FM radio play in the UK, US as well as many other countries, all without label support.
- They did their second show EVER on tour in China, followed by touring the UK and playing several festivals in 2015 (as well as Chinas biggest music festival)
- In 2015 WATC won first prize in a competition organized by the magazine Metal Hammer, the festival Bloodstock Open Air and the Dutch Symphonic Metal band Delain, where the prize was to perform at Bloodstock Open Air as well as support Delain on a headline show in Birmingham, UK.
- Speaking of being unique; WATC have Jerry Springer in the beginning of their music video for the cover “Don’t You Worry Child” presenting the song and talking to the viewer about the band.
The members Cat Fey , Kenny Boufadene and Håkan Strind spent years touring with their former band, the Modern Metal act One Without (sharing bills with Dead By April, Evergrey, Katatonia and more, as well as releasing albums on Lifeforce Records and other labels) and have channeled their skills and passion into We Are The Catalyst.
The name “We Are The Catalyst” is meant as encouragement to overcome and challenge the darker parts of ourselves and others, to invite the listeners to keep fighting in a rough and dark world, and try to encourage them to be their best self, even when it might seem hopeless.
They have been described as many things, among others Alternative Metal, Emotional Rock, Metalcore, Electronic Rock, Pop Metal, Dark Rock, etc, all blended into a unique mix with a strong modern feel.
In March of 2015, We Are The Catalyst embarked on a 10 day tour of China, doing their second show ever being specially invited to perform at the prestigious “Sound of the Xity” music expo in Beijing, as well as playing stand-alone shows and Chinas biggest music festival “Strawberry Festival” in Shanghai, where WATC headlined the “Planet Stage”.
In June of 2015 WATC won first prize in a competition organized by Metal Hammer, Bloodstock and the Dutch Symphonic Metal band Delain, where the prize was to perform at Bloodstock Open Air, with bands like Trivium, Sabaton, Within Temptation and more, as well as opening for Delain at their Birmingham show on their UK tour. This coincided with WATC doing their first UK headline tour of 13 shows in October/November.
In December of 2015 WATC returned to the UK for the third time that year, now headlining the second stage at the festival “Planet Rockstock” with bands like The Darkness, FM and Rival Sons.
The band’s debut EP from 2013, Panem Et Circenses, was a critical and fan favorite, earning the band spots on several major soundtracks and video airplay in over 20 countries. Considering their pedigree, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The debut album, Monuments released in October of 2014, topped everything expected from WATC. Released worldwide by Ferocity Records, it hit harder, it soared higher, and it cut just a little bit deeper. Case in point was their single for “Don’t You Worry Child,” a blunt assessment of the heartbreaking truths surrounding child abuse in the world and the steps that we can all take to help end this terrible affliction. At the start of the music video for the single none other than talk-show legend Jerry Springer is addressing the viewer with a request to help raise funds, as all profits from the single go to The Fostering Network and helping children in need find loving homes.
With their album “Elevation”, released on September 2nd of 2016, the band took their sound to a new level. Darker, heavier and more emotional while still maintaining the WATC trademark melodic modern sound.
UK rock & metal promoter Matt Seddon said of WATC and the album “Elevation”:
“We Are The Catalyst are a shining light in the rock and metal world right now. It´s rare to find a band who can hook you and captivate you as well as this band do. By combining soaring vocal lines and catchy melodies, We Are The Catalyst have set the benchmark for modern metal bands – providing an intense and awe inspiring listening experience that will have you begging for more. Their new album Elevation is going to take the world by force!”
2018 was spent recording and perfecting the new album “Ephemeral”, that was released on February 13th 2019 with great reception from fans and critics alike, being hailed as the best the band has ever done and “certainly the album that should break the band in the global market”.
In 2020 and 2021 We Are The Catalyst recorded and released the fourth album “Perseverance” – also signing a contract with Raw Street Noise (Part of Despotz records) who released the album on November 26th of 2021.
