faster katt - thus she spake

Faster Katt

Thus She Spake
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

The band Faster Katt from Gothenburg, Sweden, initially formed in 2003 by the vocalist/bassist Daniel Götstedt and drummer Patrick Mark. No more than a year later the band was put on hold so they could focus on another band called The Kolony.

It wasn’t until six years later in 2010 that they reformed with the addition of Mattias Engström and Jonas Rydberg. It didn't take too long for the band to release a string of EP’s. The latest being Thus She Spake. 

These guys make bass-driven (when I say bass-driven I mean it, no guitars in the lineup) metal that derives its style from previous generations. It’s an eclectic mix of math rock as well as metal from the ‘70s and early ‘8’s. The singer Daniel Götstedt has a voice that could cut through any mix and with no lack of low end frequencies in the band it works out perfectly. He often sounds like the lovechild of Marilyn Manson and Axl Rose. It’s not a voice that will be winning any American Idol contests any time soon but it sure is distinctive and works well against the army of bass lines and metronome-like drumming. 

You may be thinking that you are going to miss the guitar but about a minute into “Maximum Overdrive” you will realize these guys don't need one to rock. “Maximum Overdrive” is just as it sounds and has plenty of face planting bass lines for you to immerse yourself in. I also want to point out the vocal work by the other guys in the band was a nice contrast to the lead singer. 

“Fire In The Rain” takes the energy down a bit but has plenty of things to embrace. They still flex their muscles when it comes to creative bass parts and as the song progresses it becomes a larger wall of noise. The title track “Thus She Spake” is a drone-inspired song that you would swear has a guitar in there while the closer “Libido” has some of the most memorable bass parts that you will be humming later. Reminded me of something I would hear from Tool.

The production is good and the songs rock. A must have if you are a metal fan. If you aren't this might not be your cup of tea.

Become A Fan