Here at The Phonograph, anticipation levels are high for Catfish And The Bottlemen’s third release, The Balance. We’re so excited to see the new direction they’re taking, and to experience the countless surprises we know they’ve got in store to round out their mega-diverse sound. Joking (obviously). But just because we know exactly what to expect doesn’t mean we’re going to love The Balance any less.
Longshot’s release at Christmas showcased exactly what Catfish do best. A healthy dose of delicious guitar lines, anthemic choruses, lyrics prime and ready for 15-year-olds to write all over their school equipment – yet another addition to CATB’s arsenal of arena-ready indie-rock gems. Fluctuate provides the angst and the swagger that’s become synonymous with Catfish’s alluringly (or annoyingly) arrogant frontman Van Mccann, and the raucous reception it’s had on their most recent tour bodes well for the fan response to the full record. As we grow nearer to The Balance’s release and the weather gets warmer, 2all arrives – grab your mates, get in a car, drive somewhere in the sun, get ready for festival season, because this one’s a summery heart-warming banger through and through.
Latest offering Conversation may be suspiciously similar to Longshot with its slightly stripped-back verses, self-assured vibe and, of course, Mccann’s oh-so-characteristic vocals, but there’s no denying it’s just as explosive. CATB know their niche, they know how to write an indie-rock song that’ll grab people, and if churning out more and more of them keeps the arenas full, then what’s not to love?
Not only is The Balance coming next week, but Catfish will be heading on their second of arena shows this year to show it off. Whether you fall in love with the new album or you’re going to improvise by singing the words to Cocoon over and over again because it’ll probably fit alright, you won’t regret copping a ticket.
The Balance is out April 26th via Island Records.
Tickets for CATB’s upcoming tour can be found here.
