Catch 22

Hypocrisy’s Catch-22 is a good metal album. It is neither pop nor nu-metal. Two songs sound like Slipknot, but the rest of the album is less derivative. (And what’s the deal with the Slipknot bashing? Admittedly, their debut album was nu-metal bullshit, but Vol. 3 and parts of Iowa were great). Back to Catch-22. It’s a varied album. It does contain some death metal, but it isn’t as heavy or extreme as other Hypocrisy albums. It is obvious that Hypocrisy was attempting a more commercial sound with Catch-22, but by doing so they ran the risk of alienating their fan base. The problem with this album is that it is too heavy to appeal to a wider (less metal-oriented) audience but it is too light to satisfy long-time fans.

Maybe it’s because I only recently discovered Hypocrisy, but I don’t dislike this album at all. In fact, I appreciate that it sounds different than their other releases because it provides a glimpse into Hypocrisy’s versatility. Also, I think that Catch-22 is filled with good songs. Some have slow tempos and vocals that border on cleanliness, but they are successfully mixed in with faster and heavier sounds. Honestly people, what’s not to like here? Close-minded death metal devotees should beware, but everyone else can enjoy Catch-22 for its satisfying diversity and successful incorporation of light and shade. It may not be a typical Hypocrisy release, but it remains original. It doesn’t sound like anything else out there.