My first contact with the outfit from Ohio, Catch 22, was on a King Diamond tribute CD when the band did a really very good cover of King’s "Arrival". The band was formed back in the early 90’s (1992) and from that time till now had three albums plus the self financed release of "Soulreaper Vol. 1" (2007), that was actually a promo CD that in the first place was meant to be a 22 tracks album but they didnʼt manage it and the release came with only 11 tracks.
But now the Italian heavy metal label, Metal On Metal records, gave them the opportunity to release the whole album (containing all of the 22 tracks of that session) on a double CD under the title "Soulreaper: Evilution/Devilution".
While I was listening to this release, my mind filled with 80ʼs metal images, like bands that play metal because they WANT to play metal, with inspiration and true feeling. The origin of pure heavy metal! So if Catch 22 had been around as a band then, they would have been one of the great bands of that time. Their music is pure heavy metal with many touches of speed/thrash/power metal.
Can you imagine a very solid mix of Testament, Overkill, Savatage and other bands of the 80ʼs? If you can imagine this, then you have the musical product of Catch 22, with very good vocals, somewhere between Chuck Billy, Jon Oliva and Joey Belladona. Very good are also the melodic lines of guitars and voice and in my opinion their best feature is the riffing... in specific parts this band sounds like a riff-machine... The songs are very wisely composed and I’d dare to say technically structured with many "cuts" and many tempo and riffing changes.
Personally I spent a great time listening to the album, and it is possible that you will also spend some good time... so give them a change, you won’t regret it for sure.

Lampros “Witchfynder” Tennes

Lineup:
-: T.J. Berry - vocals, guitar Jesse Forrest - guitar, backing vocals Hank Ramage - bass, backing vocals Joe Bailey - drums, backing vocals