For more than two decades, THY CATAFALQUE was a studio-only project. That changed in 2021, when Tamás Kátai and a rotating cast of heavy hitters performed at the Fekete Zaj Festival, which was captured on the live album Mezolit.
Now, Thy Catafalque have solidified as a live act (though they still surprise audiences with a special guest here and there). Back in May, they played Budapest Park in Kátai’s native Hungary. The setlist included the elegant, cinematic cello of old favorites like “Kő koppan”, the heady “Töltés”, off the soon-to-be reissued ‘Geometria’, as well as “Néma vermek”, the punishing, synth-swirled closer off the band’s new album ‘Alföld’.
Watch the band play six songs off their Budapest Park setlist HERE.
‘Alföld’ is out now on Season of Mist. Stream the album HERE. Order it HERE.
Thy Catafalque’s next show is on August 16 at this year’s Feke Zaj Festival.
THY CATAFALQUE’s humble genius Tamás Kátai abandons any and all prenotions of tradition. Intertwining elements from a vast swath of unrelated genres, from jazz to pop to folk, and everything in between, THY CATAFALQUE masterfully crafts an eclectic sound that breaks down any generic barriers or borders. Following the massive success of 2021’s critically-acclaimed ‘Vadak’ the entity returns with ‘Alföld’ another esoteric monument in its already storied catalogue.
Originally, THY CATAFALQUE emerged as a black metal band founded by singer/keyboard player Tamás Kátai with the aid of guitarist/bassist János Juhász. Following their joined debut ‘Sublunary Tragedies’ (1999), the Hungarians evolved into quite different directions, but steadily gaining more followers in the process through the following albums, ‘Microcosmos’ (2001) and the self-released ‘Tűnő idő tárlat’ (2004).
On their fourth full-length, ‘Róka hasa Rádió’ (2009), THY CATAFALQUE invited Ágnes Tóth from neo-folk outfit THE MOON AND THE NIGHTSPIRIT and Attila Bakos to add their haunting vocals. With fifth album ‘Rengeteg’ (2011), Tamás Kátai finally went solo with the help of guest musicians that again included Ágnes Tóth an Attila Bakos. Dubbing his eclectic musical amalgamation avant-garde metal, the Hungarian explored new sonic possibilities with ‘Sgùrr’ (2015). The sixth full-length turned out to be slightly more complex than its successor, ‘Meta’ (2016), which returned to a more direct approach without losing the steadily growing sonic diversity. In 2018, THY CATAFALQUE continued this path with the release of ‘Geometria’. THY CATAFALQUE delivered another spectacular musical mosaic with their ninth full-length entitled ‘Naiv’, inspired by the “Naïve Art” movement.
In 2021, THY CATAFALQUE return with ‘Vadak’. Meaning “Wildlings” in Hungarian, the album title is a deliberate clue to the exotic and feral essence of ‘Vadak.’ Like seedlings scattered throughout the forest by the mere forces of nature, THY CATAFALQUE’s imaginative sound grows with an organic sense of whimsy, cultivated within the vast influences of our megacosm. Thematically, ‘Vadak’ is a foreboding lesson in mortality. Emphasizing the fragility that is shared by man and beast alike, the record explores our Freudian life instincts, in which we inherently fear and run from the ultimate goal of existence: death.
At its core, ‘Alföld’ expresses the familiar hallmarks that are unique to only THY CATAFALQUE, and yet, it is an unpredictable magnum opus, returning to the raw side of Kátai and his esteemed co-conspirators. The album puts forth an elegance that cannot be matched or rivalled by any musical contemporary, taking fans on an adventure that is rife with excitement, drama, and unbridled craftsmanship.
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