Ghost Cult’s correspondent, Morgan Y. Evans, had the opportunity to chat with Zoë Marie Federoff-Šmerda and Marek “Ashok” Šmerda (ex-Cradle of Filth). Zoë has been busy with her band Catalyst Crime, while Marek has been on tour with Leaves’ Eyes on bass, and working on other music. This is one of their first new interviews regarding their split from Cradle of Filth and for Zoë with Catalyst Crime, which is in the vein of old Within Temptation, Nightwish, Epica, Delain; signed to Massacre Records, and more. While we know about the very public discourse about the acrimonious split with Cradle and their management, their answers were vetted by their legal team, and we don’t know how this will all play out in the future. Still, we are happy to have Zoë and Ashok discuss their new projects and give some commentary on what happened to them, now with some added distance away from their old band. 

Symphonic power purveyors Catalyst Crime have returned with a new single, “Acquired Immunity.” To say it is my favorite metal single of the year thus far would be an understatement. It takes an already great band and launches them to the next level. Vocalist Zoë Marie Federoff-Šmerda has always had soaring highs and emotional range, but post her tenure in Cradle Of Filth, she has honed her more extreme side to a sharpened, blackened point of molten intensity. Paired with a guest blazing guitar solo from her husband Marek “Ashok” Šmerda (also ex-Cradle, Root, Leaves Eyes live bass), the track scorches atop the video imagery of an empowered Zoe and company amid the searing landscapes of Arizona and a lot of scorpion and sacrifice symbolism.  Continue reading →