SINGLE REVIEW: Katarsis – Tu matei

Despite the departure of bassist Emilija Kandratavičiūtė following long-lasting illness, 2026 has been nothing short of relentless for Lithuanian post-punk outfit Katarsis. Between the release of their incredibly solid debut record ‘Žiedlapis tau’, to extensive touring across Europe for the second year on the run, the now-three-piece have seemed wholly committed to the act of going from strength-to-strength. That only continues to be the case with the release of surprise single, ‘Tu matei’.

You would never assume that the band had lost a member, given the impressive density and creativity contained within this electrifyingly hypnotic number. Almost as if setting out an instructional manual, the band lay down a variety of ideas that are used in different combinations to evolve and transform the track; a distorted, looping “Tu matei” vocal hook, a sharp synth melody, skittering, atmospheric percussion, all being introduced almost one-by-one before shifting configurations to produce ethereal yet engaging soundscapes.

Lukas Radzevičius is as commanding yet subdued as ever, an effervescent lower register snaking in and out of the dense post-punk fog. Drums gently surge towards a hypnotic dance beat in the track’s back half, only to break out of their trance and resume their steady rattle. Minimalist guitars paradoxically shimmer with rich, lustrous wonder, only adding to the liminal feeling the whole track possesses. It is unquestionably one of the band’s finest works yet, and demands immediate repeated listens.

On their debut record, Katarsis sometimes sounded just a little unfocused, ethereal soundscapes failing to quite coalesce into anything you could get your teeth into. Those flaws are wholly remedied here; ‘Tu matei’ retains the luscious expansiveness that makes Katarsis so gripping, but feels sharp and direct in a way that the band never have before.

For Fans Of: Fontaines D.C., HMLTD, Wet Leg, labyrinthine oceans, NewDad

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