We Are the Catalyst - Don't You Worry Child

Swedish pseudo-metal outfit We Are the Catalyst has been picking up steam in their native country and abroad since the release of their first EP, “Panem Et Circenses.” Prior to becoming We Are the Catalyst, vocalist Cat Fey and bassist Kenny Boufadene shared the stage with the likes of Katatonia and Dead by April in the metal outfit One Without. Now as a full band, We Are the Catalyst have also teamed up with a new project called Rock for the Children, which aims to help give foster kids and parents better resources.
The brainchild of Seven13 Records and Independent Music Promotions, Rock for the Children was created to benefit The Fostering Network, a unique non-profit based out of London whose work is centered around not just placing foster children but making the fostering system in the UK run more efficiently; giving more information and training to foster parents, letting children know their rights and helping them access help and most importantly trying to keep siblings within the foster system together.
We Are the Catalyst put together their special single, a cover of Swedish House Mafia’s “Don’t You Worry Child” as the first release on Rock for the Children and added it to their new full-length album, “Monuments.” The single is available for purchase on the Rock for the Children website, and all proceeds from the purchase go directly to The Fostering Network.
Style-wise, We Are the Catalyst are kind of a classed-up Evanessence. That’s probably not a ringing endorsement with the BR crowd, but hear me out. The metal side of this band is pretty on-point. Well-written and performed guitar, drum and bass parts that could easily translate to full metal if the band chose to go that route. They are, however, a little pop leaning in the sense that they use Linkin Park-like synths, and Cat Fey is definitely not a cookie monster growler or metal screamer. She has a pretty, pop-suited voice that seems like it translates pretty well to We Are the Catalyst’s chosen genre. Is it a little cheesy? Yes, sometimes, but overall the music is well-produced and will appeal to a certain demo, surely.
The choice of single for the Rock for the Children project is also, admittedly, a little cheesy but given the subject matter, it works quite well. I’ve never been much of a fan of the Swedish House Mafia version of “Don’t You Worry Child,” so in this case We Are the Catalyst actually improve it with their metal pop style. It also goes very well with the video Rock for the Children has put together to further spread the message about the issues facing foster children. It almost takes on an ironic tone as the lyrics of the song are “…and my father said; don’t you worry don’t you worry child; see heaven’s got a plan for you,” and in the video the children are taken out of their home due to an abusive father. As a package, it makes a poignant statement whether you like the pop metal approach or not.
 I would say that We Are the Catalyst are for a niche of metal fans who don’t mind a smidge of feminine pop sensibility, but we’re not going back to a place where that kind of stuff is going to take off like in the heyday of Linkin Park and Evanessence. That was a one-shot deal (thank goodness). I do like what We Are the Catalyst have done with Rock for the Children, however, and I think their cover of and video for “Don’t You Worry Child” will be well-received. Rock for the Children will be doing a series of singles from all kinds of different bands to raise money for The Fostering Network, so if you don’t feel like purchasing this single, keep an eye on their website for new songs to come.
 


Jun 03 2015