The Rewritten Chapters

The years immediately following 2006's excellent Location: COLD were not so kind for Catamenia, with half of the album's lineup departing prior to 2008's VIII: The Time Unchained. The latter album, along with follow-up Cavalcade two years, remain the weakest two albums in the band's history, not helped by the bizarre decision during this period to drop keyboards entirely, stripping from both albums a key element of the Catamenia's core sound. Lead guitarist and founding member Riku Hopeakoski must have thought Catamenia was finished when the entire Cavalcade lineup, excluding himself, decided to call it a day shortly after the album was released. He was not to be deterred, however, as he wasted no time bringing in a mostly new lineup (bassist Mikko Hepo-Oja was previously in the band from 2005-06) and tarry on.

The Rewritten Chapters is the first album released by the new post-Cavalcade lineup, and features a collection of re-recorded songs from Catamenia's past albums rather than any new material. After nine albums in 12 years, the most recent two records were clear evidence that Hopeakoski was running out of steam, so a compilation of re-recorded tracks to get something out there featuring the new lineup was not a bad idea, even if it was always going to appeal more to newer fans than older.

As far the actual music goes, it's a pretty good selection of tracks. Fan favourites such as 'Blackmension', 'Eskhata' and 'Coldbound' are included, and the three represent the band's variety of sound very well; 'Blackmension's blackened power metal, 'Eskhata's fast and frantic melodic black metal, and 'Coldbound' being a mid-tempo fist-pumper. The latter two tracks also represent a more upbeat element in the band's sound, contrasting with darker and more solemn, melancholic numbers such as 'My Blood Stained Path', 'Morning Crimson' and 'Kuolon Tanssi'.

While the production is more polished than their earlier work, and not so harsh and cold as their middle-era, most of the songs otherwise sound largely the same as their original forms. The most notable difference in songs such as 'Cavalcade' and 'Coldbound' is the lack of clean vocals compared to the originals. Drummer Toni Qvick does provide some clean vocals, but they are less frequent than when Kari Vahakuopas was in the band. New frontman Juha-Matti Pertunen, however, is a big improvement and easily the best harsh vocalist the band have had since Olli-Jukka Mustonen left in 2008. While he lacks the icy power of Mustonen, he does a good job overall and adds more variety with some lower grunts from time to time.

Perhaps the most welcome addition to the band, however, is that of keyboardist Jussi Sauvola, bringing back an element that was so conspicuously absent from their most recent work.

The mixing is the most negative aspect of this record, however. The vocals, guitars, bass and keys are all well-mixed, but the drums are not. The snare is surprisingly low, whereas the bass drum is often inaudible, which diminishes the power of the songs somewhat. And as previously stated, the production is very polished, which takes away a bit of the frosty edge that so defines their best work.

Remarkably, as of December 2022, this lineup of Catamenia remains unchanged, despite their earlier revolving door of members. Even more remarkably, despite 'The Rewritten Chapters' being their tenth album since 1998 at the time of release, no further material has surfaced in the decade since. Catamenia is allegedly working on a new album, and has been for at least four years, but has experienced a sequence of delays despite the band very much remaining at least semi-active. It would be a shame if this lineup never gets the opportunity to record an album of new material, but we will have to wait and see.

As for 'The Rewritten Chapters', it is a solid record that is best reserved for die-hard fans and newcomers who have yet to pick up any of Catamenia's material, the latter of whom will find this to be the ideal starting point. Older fans who already own most, if not all, of their discography, but aren't bothered about compilation efforts to add to their collection will see little need to pick this up, despite its re-recorded nature.

As this is essentially a compilation album for new listeners, I will not be listing any recommended tracks.