KATHARSIS
by SANTA CRUZ
Compact Disc
M0492
Label: M-THEORY AUDIO
In the five-year period following the release of their acclaimed 2013 debut, Finnish hard rockers SANTA CRUZ made impressive waves on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe, the group – hailed by Rolling Stone as “debaucherous and flamboyant” – scored two Top 5 albums in their home country, supported the likes of AC/DC and delivered memorable performances at major events such as the UK's Download Festival. In America, meanwhile, the band appeared on the AXS TV program “Breaking Band,” played notable gigs such as Rock On The Range and the inaugural Motörboat cruise and toured alongside I Prevail, Amaranthe and Sebastian Bach.
In April 2019, the group released the first taste of “Katharsis” via the song “Changing of Seasons,” which Archie described as “about going through hell in life, and fighting your way back to the surface no matter what.” The following month, another single, the infectious, riff-driven melodic rock anthem “Tell Me Why,” was released. As of July 1, the two songs have been streamed on Spotify more than 350,000 times combined. From there, SANTA CRUZ made a triumphant return to the stage in June, when the group played before 50,000 fans at an Estonian concert alongside Bon Jovi and performed at three of Finland's largest annual festivals. The following month, the band played German shows with Whitesnake and Steel Panther.
With songs ranging from heavy rockers like “True Believer” and “Bang Bang (My Worst Enemy),” to powerful ballads such as “Smoke Signals” and “I Want You To Mean It,” to melodic anthems-in-the-making “Testify” and “Into The War,” “Katharsis” has something for rock fans of all stripes – and lest anyone think that the band has lost their love for the music of the 1980s, the record concludes with an amped-up cover of Cyndi Lauper's “Time After Time.”
“From doing demos in Finland, to the Las Vegas studio sessions with Kane, to the audition and rehearsal period in Hollywood, 'Katharsis' has been an amazing journey,” says Archie. “I'm super-exited to continue the journey and hit the road with Pav, Ero and Toxy. The band is sounding amazing and better than ever.”
1. Changing of Seasons
2. Bang Bang (My Worst Enemy)
3. Into The War
4. I Want You To Mean It
5. True Believer
6. Tell Me Why
7. Testify
8. Smoke Signals
9. It Was You
10. Salvation
11. Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper cover)
