After forming 15 years earlier whereas in highschool, Arizona different quartet Katastro lastly appeared prepared to take the subsequent step in 2022.
Vocalist Andy Chaves, bassist Ryan Weddle, drummer Andrew Stravers and guitarist Tanner Riccio have been prepared to document once more on the heels of 2021’s Sucker and had simply completed enjoying at venues like Pink Rocks Amphitheatre forward of their summer season tour with Iration. Forward of these periods in Might 2022, the group headed west to Orange County, Ca. to go to their buddies in Soiled Heads’ studio. However simply a couple of days later, Chaves was killed in a automotive accident on Might 12, 2022 on the age of 32.
Whereas grieving their pal and bandmate, the surviving members of Katastro canceled the tour, halted the recording course of, and ceased band actions indefinitely.
Roughly a yr and a half later, Weddle, Stravers and Riccio are prepared to transfer ahead with releasing Katastro’s remaining album — having already launched the primary single, the upbeat “Good Time” — that includes vocal takes carried out mere days earlier than Chaves’ loss of life.
“It’s been bittersweet for us,” Stravers tells SPIN over Zoom. “It’s so thrilling to lastly put music out as a result of we’re so used to continually placing music out throughout our 16 years as a band. However to not have Andy right here whereas we do it comes with all these completely different feelings and emotions.”
“I didn’t notice it till [‘Good Time’] got here out, however a part of me felt protected holding on to this music,” Weddle provides. “I already had it, and it was at all times there. However now that it’s out, it simply seems like ‘OK, what’s subsequent?’ Fortunately, we do have a lot extra [of Chaves’ vocals], however it made me notice how priceless each single factor we have now left is. All of it means a lot extra and feels completely different than another launch.”
Except for their gratitude for the remaining vocal takes that Chaves recorded in his remaining days, Katastro can be grateful for the group that has supported them during the last 18 months. Regardless of having to drop off of the tour with Iration, the reggae rockers introduced a few of Katastro’s merch with them on the street and despatched them the entire income from its gross sales. Earlier this yr, Katastro carried out for the primary time since Chaves’ loss of life at Kampfest, a pageant placed on in his reminiscence. Iration and Soiled Heads confirmed up, as did Chic With Rome singer Rome Ramirez — all of whom are featured on the ultimate album, together with their Arizona brethren in The Maine. Hundreds of followers confirmed up to Kampfest, with hundreds extra reaching out and providing assist on-line.
It’s the sort of response and group appreciation that Chaves would’ve cherished, and his reminiscence drives the remaining members to make sure that the ultimate album isn’t simply a nice launch, however a deserving send-off.
“The three of us really feel this obligation to hold pushing via not solely to withhold Andy’s legacy but in addition the band’s legacy and all the pieces we’ve labored for,” Weddle says. “It was evident to us proper after he handed that we’d have to take a couple of months, however we couldn’t simply sit round and do nothing. All of us knew that ending it was the one approach we have been going to give you the option to get via it. We had different artists and all of the followers supporting us and giving us the energy to give you the option to try this.”
“We began realizing fairly shortly that we had sufficient [vocals] to do all this, which gave us hope that it’s not over,” Riccio says. “I assumed it was gonna be this big strain to be sure that all the pieces is nice once we lastly received to the purpose of releasing it. There may be a few of that, however it simply feels good that it appears like what the album would have appeared like if none of this tragic stuff had occurred. It feels just like the band can nonetheless have this second collectively, though Andy’s not right here.”
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