Catafalque gets a lot of airtime on the Sonic Cathedral radio station. . .and for good reason. They’re one of the hotter groups around. You won’t find a lot of information out about them, other than a MySpace site. I’m not even sure what the word means, other than it is mentioned as a location where a coffin can be situated. Of course, it could have a totally different meaning in Turkish, a language with which I have absolutely no familiarity. So, we’re stuck with something to put your remains on while they’re getting the ground ready.

The music is, however, something easier to deal with. It is classic female fronted gothic, of a kind that is very much in line with what most of us who visit this site are interested in. At least in most respects. There is a wonderful female vox, and it is the lead instrument in the Catafalque presentation. And, it is augmented by a strong instrumental group of musicians.

Catafalque have been around for a number of years in Turkey. . . Istanbul, actually. The current lineup, however, dates only to 2002. According to the band, this album, their second release, is a bit of a deviation from their earlier album which they describe as purely gothic in nature. This offering is a bit more eclectic in terms of delivery. The band describes this work as "not just as guitar-based gothic metal, but also shows characteristics of pop and dark metal, with synth leads and sequences and more technological sounds." Clearly, these "technological sounds" are a bit different than the somewhat more typical orchestrated components one often finds in this genre. However, they work in this environment, especially in terms of how they interact with the vocals. Some may find this a distraction, however, in the opinion of this reviewer, the approach works well.

Lyrics also stray from the more typical gothic. The story here is about the concept of a "woman", seen from male and female perspectives. It’s a little hard to describe without looking more closely at those lyrics. And, the first song, Seasons, does a reasonably good job of introducing that theme. Seasons is one of the high points of the CD, and receives significant airtime on the Sonic Cathedral radio outlet. The song covers much of what Catafalque has to offer, strong vocals, the "electronic" or "industrial" component and the metal that is the basis of the CD. Lyrically, the song constructs the basic theme of the story:

It’s always appropriate to mention the names of the musicians, even though, in this case, we probably can’t pronounce them. Catafalque is Özge Özkan – Vox, Metehan Mert Çakir – Vox, Arin Baykurt – Guitar, Alper Tabakçilar – Bass, Onur Akça – Drums and Serhan Diren – Clavier. Özkan, is, of course, the lead female vocal. . .and an eyeful to say the least. Her voice is not standard opera but has a range and presentation that satisfies in every respect. The male lead, Mert Cakir, is also strong both as clean vocals and in the traditional grunting capacity. You either like the grunting or you don’t, in this case it works seamlessly with the classic female style presented by Özkan.

You can pick any song on this CD as a favorite, there are no flops. Personally, Butterfly Inside is a favorite, and another regular on the Sonic Cathedral radio station. Vocals, both male and female are exceptional and the metal is top drawer. Özkan delivers throughout her range and Cakir augments the female lead with his own strong vocal performance. Background sounds are more orchestral in nature but the stick work of drummer Akca drive the rhythm up to a fierce guitar solo that leads the song back to the vocals. A truly inspired work, and one that must be considered a classic gothic piece.

Catafalque is a serious player on the gothic stage. Vocals are exceptionally strong as is the overall musicianship. Production leaves little to be desired and is surprisingly strong from a technical perspective. The songs don’t tend to run together and are fine as stand alone units. Certainly it is possible that there are those who would question the "electronic" components, but, in this instance, they work when viewed as a whole.

If nothing else, Catafalque demonstrates the international perspective of this music. What was once an American phenomena is now truly international, and with the added advantage of reflecting the cultures from which it is drawn. Catafalque is a strong player in this market, and can be expected to participate for some time.

Give it a listen.

10 / 10 PERFECT SCORE