It’s been less than a year since Shillong-based hardcore group Catatonic released their sophomore EP titled “Metanoia”, and the lads are back with another riveting addition to their catalogue. Stepping further away from their death-grind roots, “Smug” bridges all the gaps between hardcore, noise rock, and post-punk. It specifically scratches the familiar itch one develops when left feeling devoid of a common thread that ties it all together, more so with classics that shaped multiple subgenres. If you’ve ever wondered how you could trace the searing guitar work of a group like Shellac to the weighted scratches of Raw Power-era Stooges, look no further than this record as a starting point. Of course, that isn’t to say that Catatonic are a mere mix of derivatives. Rather, they are a group that have carved out a very special niche for themselves within the Indian rock/metal scene. Rarely does a group manage to display a wide array of influences this inventively and hold the listener’s attention till the last beat.
Few bands in the scene have openly ventured towards the ethos of punk-based subgenres in their approach to songwriting, with Catatonic embodying every little stride the genre has made in all its existence. From the low, metallic rumbles of the bass that kick off the album to the visceral dissonance of the guitars, the swing-infused explosive drumming to the earnest melodies that carry the indignant words within them, each song takes you on a journey of trauma, loss, and conflict. At just over 15 minutes, the songs roar through with a familiar gruesome pace, jangling along with chromatically crunched-out riffs and a steady resolve in every arrangement, accentuated by their delicate syncopation and choppy yet frantic rhythm. The feel of the opener “Bootlicker” is reminiscent of early Nirvana (back when some would’ve deemed them a “heavy pop sludge” outfit), albeit with piercingly confrontational screams directed at oneself and one’s own lived reality in the webs of subservience and conformity. Along with the chaotic yet whimpering recklessness of “Fawn” and the slow, crushing descent of “Grief,” the album uncompromisingly weaves swift transition within swift transition without any sense of urgency or doubt.
The most apparent difference between this release and its predecessors is the interspersed drops in tempo and the addition of feedback and space to the textural double-time gallops. The layering of clean vocals in these sections gives a fresh perspective to the group’s most poignant expressions. This exploration of languid rhythm is very much in the vein of what some early hardcore groups like Black Flag and Flipper boldly branched out to, at a time when doing so was considered sacrilegious in the punk community. Needless to say, it ended up inspiring other innovative groups, the most notable one being the sludge metal band Melvins, whose music arguably birthed the scene in the Pacific Northwest. If side two of “My War” could achieve that within the adherents of its circle, then “Smug” serves as testament to what is possible for any Indian group looking for inspiration in extremes. The blitzy crustiness juxtaposed with flashes of screeching doom on this album is an apt place to start in breaking the cycle of mundane songcraft.
A group that’s steadily solidifying itself within the alternative and metal scenes, Catatonic have taken a new leap with the release of “Smug”. Chaotic catharsis is in their veins, and now they’ve taken a step towards blending brash texture with it, without sacrificing any of the hooks or melody. This is a group that deserves all the credit and visibility it can garner, hopefully getting to fill opening slots at big festivals for international artists one day. They have shared the stage with some of Indian metal’s revered names (Gutslit, Maneating Orchid) and are the de-facto torchbearers of Indian post-hardcore along with Mumbai-based Pacifist. This EP reaffirms one’s faith in a scene that is growing quietly amidst all the noise.
Best song(s): Grief, Bootlicker, Canaille
