11 Phenomenal Underground Artists That Deserve Your Attention

8. Catalysts

Catalysts - like the Fontaines and The SSS - are a Sheffield group that illustrate the level of talent bursting to be noticed here in the North of England. Consisting of frontman Tom (whose quiff rivals Alex Turner's), guitarist Elliot, bassist Jacen and drummer Josi (who pulls some of the funniest faces if you see the band play live), Catalysts bring some excellent songwriting to the table. https://soundcloud.com/catalysts-music/maybelline Maybelline, an intriguing song about aesthetics with some clean guitar work, tells the listener that "façades are for the icon pop queen / your prize is vanity". That's pretty deep stuff, coming from a bunch of seventeen and eighteen year old lads when you think about it. 'Blank Minds Think Alike' has a sexy opening riff that compliments the bassline perfectly, but it's stripped back to basics when Tom opens his mouth to sing; 'Don't Leave Me Behind 'Cause What's Yours Is Mine' is upbeat in tempo and very easy to know the words within a few listens. Don't listen to it walking down the street €“ unless of course you don't mind walking along in time to your iPod like a bit of an idiot. They're not short of enthusiasm or material, but they're definitely short of attention. Check them out.