Mark Ciani – ‘The Catacombs’ [Album Review]

Indie-rock artist and producer Mark Ciani recently released his latest album, The Catacombs, co-produced by Grammy-winning producer and engineer Fernando Lodeiro. The Catacombs follows on the heels of Ciani’s 2023 album, Sad Robot, a dark pop collection of songs.

Ciani began his career as a songwriter and keyboardist for the punk/ska band Freaks from the Apocalypse in the ‘90s. Beginning in 2012, Ciani played keyboards and wrote and produced for various projects. In 2022, he wrote, produced, played keyboards, and–new for him–assumed lead singer duties on his first project under his own name, releasing two albums – King of Death and King of Death Returns.

The Catacombs explores the fragility of peace and comfort, inspecting the countless ways people sabotage their paths to contentment.

Encompassing a baker’s dozen of tracks, entry points on the album include “Cut Me Up,” a shimmering pop-flavored tune that adds heavier guitars to give the tune a rock sensibility. On the outro, the melody subsides to softly fading tones.

“Some Kind of Purgatory” pulls listeners into a raw, almost discordant melody, full of edgy guitars as Ciani’s angsty vocals imbue the lyrics with nightmarish dreaminess, evoking his determination to discover a way out of his agonizing limbo.

A personal favorite because of its creamy, undulating flow, “73 Seconds” travels on gleaming guitars riding finessed percussion. While on “Catch My Breath,” ebbing and rising heavy guitars lead to dreamscape-like textures. Ciani’s voice takes on rich, delicate timbres, giving the lyrics an evocative warmth.

Mark Ciani, photo by Jessica Glick

Another favorite because of its low-slung SoCal pop-rock feel, “Too Wise to Enjoy” features a delicious propelling rhythm topped by Ciani’s wistful vocals. A sizzling, dirty guitar solo invests the tune with luminous emotional tension.

Perhaps the prettiest song on the album, “Denise” offers beautiful, searching vocals narrating a tale of isolation and emotional neglect. The title track closes the album, delivering a complex, drifting melody that glides on subtle, sparkling colors. For some reason, this track summons up memories of Christopher Cross, only silkier and plusher. Ciani’s velvety voice imbues the lyrics with luscious tenderness.

Despite its sometimes-forlorn lyrics, The Catacombs provides a wonderful listening experience, introspective and sonically alluring.

The Catacombs Track Listing:

1. Cut Me Up
2. Some Kind of Purgatory
3. Big Tits in Cartoons
4. Second Chance
5. 73 Seconds
6. Catch My Breath
7. 2:30 A.M.
8. Chernobyl
9. Holding on to that Line
10. Too Wise to Enjoy
11. Denise
12. Lousy Sunday Breakfast
13. The Catacombs

Run Time: 42:40
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Record Label: Independent