Katagory V | Awaken A New Age Of Chaos | High Roller Records

 

Katagory V is a progressive power metal band from Salt Lake City, Utah, founded in 1999 by bassist Dustin Mitchell alongside guitarist Curtis Morrell and drummer Matt Suiter. Their career began with “Present Day” in 2001, and over the years they established a reputation with albums like “A New Breed Of Rebellion,” “The Rising Anger,” and “Hymns Of Dissension.” After a long hiatus following “Resurrect The Insurgence” (2015), the band reemerged with a renewed purpose and a new lineup that includes vocalist Albert Rybka and guitarist Dan Coxey, returning now under a new contract with High Roller Records.

 “Awaken A New Age Of Chaos” is Katagory V’s first full-length release in a decade, and it captures both the weight of time passed and the energy of rediscovery. The album runs a wide spectrum between tight rhythmic attacks and melodic passages, often shifting from speed-oriented, sharp riffing to slow, reflective moods. The production is sharp without feeling forced—handled in-house at Streamline Sound by the band themselves, with final mastering by Alan Douches, it retains clarity and density without losing bite.

Tracks like “Empire Of Ignorance” and “Blood Siphon” lean into darker rhythmic patterns and aggressive tension, while “Through Fate’s Eyes” and “Absolute Divide” contrast with more melodic phrasings. Albert Rybka delivers a vocal performance grounded in precision and dramatic weight, rarely overextending but retaining control and purpose across the album. His voice brings a certain grit and emotional fatigue that fits the themes without feeling theatrical.

The guitars carry the album’s identity forward. Both Curtis Morrell and Dan Coxey move effortlessly between complex leads and structured riff work. Drummer Matt Suiter contributes fluid tempo shifts that help maintain the dynamic momentum across the runtime, and Dustin Mitchell’s bass presence is not buried, offering low-end muscle in tandem with the dual guitar work.

Lyrically, there’s a thread of existential reflection—personal downfall, socio-political decay, emotional trauma—but the band avoids leaning too far into abstraction or overstatement. The themes are expressed clearly, anchored in strong song structures and clear arrangements. The atmosphere across the album is more serious and driven than in their previous works, and the darker tone seems tied to the band's years of absence and challenges they’ve overcome. Still, this is not a complete stylistic departure—long-time followers will recognize familiar songwriting sensibilities, now framed with a more urgent character.

There is consistency in tone and structure, though the variety between the more speed-oriented and melodic material ensures the album does not become flat or predictable. The final track, “I Miss You”, closes the album on a melancholic note that feels genuine rather than calculated—a reflective end to a work shaped by years of persistence. “Awaken A New Age Of Chaos” is a serious, focused return for Katagory V, reaffirming their voice in the progressive power metal scene while embracing the shadows of their past with clarity.

Score: 7.8