“who is Catch Your Breath?”
Aside from a few releases in previous years, Catch Your Breath had yet to make major waves until the release of their highly anticipated debut album, Shame On Me. Putting out steady singles since 2017, it was clear Catch Your Breath was destined for something greater- Shame On Me is that something.
As an individual who has seen CYB twice in concert now, I can attest to their wonderful live abilities (and to Josh Mowery pointing to me in the crowd as the only person going ape shit to Y.S.K.W). There’s never a moment where you suspect they’re lacking in any capacity. There’s a real grit behind their sound, it makes them a sort of insatiable entity.
I have loved this album since a month or two after its release (I was a smidge late to the train) but I cannot imagine it any other way. Shame On Me is a powerful debut, and although I am biased to its flawlessness- I am going to give my real, raw thoughts on this masterful piece of work. Without further ado, Aub takes on Shame On Me.
No Evil
No Evil is our opener, and for the longest time, would not grow on me. I found the jarring jump in the beginning from that “see no hear no speak no…” to LOUD- HEAVY- ROUGH guitar, very out of place. It would be a while until I really got it. Now, I can say that it’s not grown off me, but rather on, as I am fascinated at the makeup of this song. You think you understand the tempo and then you don’t. It’s surprising and in your face and it’s exactly how you should open your album, ESPECIALLY if you have pipes like Josh Mowery. Especially.
Intermission: Have we talked about the personnel yet? Josh Mowery on vox, Teddy Herrera on guitar, Cianan Madigan on bass and Onell Hernandez on drums- essentially it’s stacked.
Dying on the Inside
is track number two, and it’s just the beginning of what you’re really in for. I am absolutely infatuated with this tune. It’s an unnaturally, very easygoing hard rock explosion. Again, I need to highlight that voice of Josh Mowery. What’s apparent is his ability to carry a tune and carry it well. That smooth vocal lull to that masterful growl- dude has it all. Dying on the Inside is fun to me because of all that’s going. Specifically with the guitar and drum work. It’s nice on the ears, if that makes sense. Not jumbled, not unlistenable, just flowing. This one has a great rhythm to it.
Dial Tone
is probably the song you know from CYB. Rightfully so. This. Goddamn. Song. This was a song I originally, shockingly, could not get down with. I was having a hard time finding the balance in all the madness happening here. Good madness, obviously. But what I did know? That bass is no fucking joke here. Thank you, Cianan. Each chorus has this sort of haunting ability. You’re entranced by the build of this song, from beginning to end, and it’s whether you know it or not. The pain you can feel from Mowery here is stuff of legend. It is an unreal feeling really listening to what’s being sung, hearing those words that feel like they’re being cut from his chest- it’s intense and it’s everything an album like this needs. The song is thick with emotion, layers of instrumentation and backing vocals that you probably won’t even catch by your 50th listen- Dial Tone is that of a winter evening. It’s cold, it’s un-ironically inviting and it’s giving you a sort of painful nostalgia you can’t locate. Have I said enough? I haven’t? let’s talk about that bridge. Now that’s something that can make a grown man cry. Granted, i’m 18 at the time of writing, and a woman, but that type of emotion is something even a robot could feel. Listening to Mowery’s cry for reasoning is daunting. It’s real. It’s, in its own way, relatable. Dial Tone has the chops to hold up against, in my opinion, some of the greater rock songs of the 21st century.
Cycles
is a heavier addition to Shame On Me. Mowery’s vocal ability is really showcased here. What I always really liked about Cycles is how heavy the guitar is, specifically in that opening. It really sets the tone and reminds you that this is no light album- this is real, heavy rock n roll. Cycles is one of the stronger written songs on this record, in my personal opinion, granted it’s entirely different than the rest in its detailing of a broken home. Once again, Joshua. Mowery. Fabulous.
Deadly
had a longer time growing on me, mostly because of that intro and beginning verse being vastly different from each other. It’s like a tasteful way of whiplash. But like I said earlier, once you get it with CYB, you get it. I absolutely love the chorus on Deadly. “I had a vision of how I would die/from a kiss so deadly”. There’s a lot of cool guitar stuff going on as well, it makes for an interesting listening experience. And once again, I love the lyrical story going on here. It’s heightened simply by the delivery of Josh Mowery. Remember when I said it sounded as if the words were being cut from his chest? Yeah, that was a compliment and I still mean it. It’s a powerful way of getting your message through song across and it’s something he does well. I haven’t mentioned it much, but the drum work from Onell Hernandez is something that should be highlighted upon more. It makes this record more creative and fun.
Y.S.K.W
is my absolute favorite song from this record and I am crushed that my gatekeeping abilities are failing me when it comes to it (joke). I can’t even say anything- this review will be TOTALLY biased. Much like it already is because of how bangin’ this album is. Y.S.K.W means so much to me as a person that it can easily bring a tear to my eye. This is the song that can compete with Dial Tone in my personal opinion, easily. It’s an otherworldly experience, Y.S.K.W. It’s gentle and equally rough and that makes for the same exact experience as for when you’re listening to Dial Tone– bliss. There’s really no confusion with this one. It’s straightforward, cutting right to the heart. “You in my bed/I never said no/a rush to the head/then I’m crashing below”. What else can I say other than the fact that this song is the one that Josh Mowery pointed to me to during because I was going so hard in the crowd and no one else knew it?
My Confessions
is possibly the most underrated song on this record, and the one that took the absolute longest to get me on board with. My Confessions is that of a bad dream. You’re running, you’re out of breath, you’re begging for someone to hear you or help you, and then you’re saved. You’re relieved. And what does it? That absolute GODLY guitar note that sears into your soul at around the 2:20 minute mark. I mean it’s just incredible. That’s where I just close my eyes and let this absolutely beautiful addition to this album take over fully. And what makes it even better is that you can’t even enjoy that part of the song unless you fully immerse yourself into the rest of it. You need to feel Mowery’s questioning of himself and helplessness. You as a listener are dragged into that pit of despair with him. There’s no escaping it until those last 30 seconds, where the clearing reveals itself. My Confessions is more than just a song, it’s a story. And a well written one at that.
Savages
is beautifully opened with that intro. Then, in an instant, it’s that same hard hitting rock we’ve grown to love all throughout this album. What I really enjoy on this one is the work done by Onell. Like I said before, it’s nothing short of creative. Savages is fun in a sense that it’s more anthem than it is anything else, and that’s exactly why it was such an electrifying opener when I last saw CYB. That bridge knocks you out entirely. It’s almost mythical, the pleading sort of tone from Mowery. Again, I must compliment his vocal abilities. Duh. Savages: nothing short of pure electricity.
Mirror
is one that I can’t imagine this album being a thing without. It was also one I struggled loving at first, weirdly enough, as it’s now one of my favorites and something I constantly find in my head. Mirror is not only powerful in terms of musicality, but in lyricism. Hold on! Ekoh feature! Did not know how lucky I was to have From Ashes To New, Ekoh and CYB all on the same bill.
-Insert major regret for not researching the other acts before i went to the blackout tour pt.1, here-
moving on, the bridge of this one is possibly my most favorite on this album. The dreamy, sort of nursery rhyme tone from Ekoh gives the song this beautiful, enhanced feeling. I really enjoy Mirror, all around.
Don’t Go
is 9 times out of 10 a skip for me. But then I sit down for a moment and realize I actually really enjoy this song and simply can’t come to terms with that fact. I believe the only thing that turns me off from this tune is just some of the guitar work. That’s really all. What I enjoy most about it tho, is how wonderfully Josh Mowery delivers that chorus. Seriously, does the man have any faults? I also intensely enjoy that bridge, it’s different and fun and I think it gives the song an edge that it desperately needs. I’m sounding like a Don’t Go hater but i’m not, I think I just need to sit with her for a bit longer.
Cold Light
is another addition to this album that I find intensely underrated. The second this song clicked with me, it clicked bad. It was on my on repeat for a very long time, being one of those automatic ‘go-to’ songs for me. What I really enjoy about Cold Light is possibly how prominent that bass is. It really does enhance the quality of the song and it’s dark undertone. Cianan Madigan, everyone. Cold Light is just an all around edgy piece of work that cements itself as a very good part of this record from CYB.
21 Gun Salute
is one that you probably already know, as you should. While it’s not one of my major favorites from here, I can understand how it is a fan and crowd favorite. 21 is relatable, fascinating all around and deeply intense. “You promised me our love was safe/you broke me”. Literally who did this to Josh Mowery (LMAO!) 21 is really a heartbreaking song, so i’m just wondering.. I just wanna talk. I’d say one of my most favorite parts about this song, however, is the bridge. If there’s one thing CYB is gonna do, it’s a bridge. Whew. Powerful. Meaningful. Deep. The list goes on for that one.
Shame On Me
is our title track, and is ironically the very last addition to its album of the same name. I really, really love that beginning. I possibly love the first verse even more. This one has the same sort of qualities I find in Y.S.K.W and Dial Tone. That same sort of haunting beauty. “Behind your walls/are you listening at all?” Shame On Me is just overall, a really strong way to close out this record. As I said before, if there’s one thing CYB will do, it’s a bridge. And they do their damn thing on this one as they’ve done previously on this album.
Final Thoughts
oh how it’s always a great experience re-listening to this one. You know I have the vinyl, one of the 150 random variants pressed. It’s a great record, truly, from start to finish. I thank CYB for their vulnerability and overall sophisticated performance on this album. It makes for a winding story that grabs you and doesn’t let go. It’s a body of work that will call out to you in one way shape or form. It’s a collection, and we as listeners should be honored we get to enjoy it. Thank you, CYB.
folks, that was Aub takes on CYB’s Shame On Me. Want more? hmu on insta, and or just sign up for updates. Until then, peace and love ❤ -Aub
