Dark Halo, A - Catalyst (2006)^{Release ID: 39222}

The brand new Mechina album Bellum Interruptum has made me curious about that band's new harsh vocalist Dave Lowmiller's previous band A Dark Halo. This band has already had some ties with Mechina whose clean vocalist Mel Rose joined A Dark Halo for their new album Omnibus One. The first album A Dark Halo is an amazing gem of industrial/cyber metal for fans of the genre and Mechina!

Catalyst was released in 2006, 17 years before their next album. Their brand of industrial/cyber metal is basically what Fear Factory had at the time but made better and more futuristic. Still the music here is quite unique and can get listeners hooked with the synths and guitars.

One of my favorite tracks here is the first one, "Burn It All", having lots of groove and energy from the intro onwards. Then we have the mighty "Beyond Recall" with some of the best choruses in the album. "Dust and Ashes" has some heavier riffing, but the mid-tempo pace seems to take things closer to the alt-metal territory of early 36 Crazyfists and, very later on, Any Given Sin.

We then reduce the speed with the slow verses of "Silence", a ballad-ish highlight that can still be heavy. Then we have the piano/synth intermission of "Reformatting..." Unusual but a well-needed break.

"Nucleus" has more of the heavy industrial metal without going as extreme as Strapping Young Lad. "Apex Realized" has a nearly similar vibe to 2010s All That Remains while really industrializing that later sound. "Unbreakable" is an incredible ending track, as heavy guitars and beautiful synths continue to duel each other for an industrial/cyber metal tune that should really catch on along with the others.

It's not everyday you can find a practically unknown album that can make your day with its music and lyrics of coldness and loss. Catalyst is a special album to listen to. A dash of melancholy for your industrial/cyber metal heart!

Favorites: "Burn It All", "Beyond Recall", "Silence", "Unbreakable"