Battle Cat
Self-Released, 2025
8/10
The multi-instrumentalist Audra Suchy sings songs from the experience of terrible loss and the subsequent rebuilding afterwards, and she’s got some excellent help for these powerful and relatable tracks.
“Boyfriend” opens with Noah Levy’s crisp drums alongside the thick guitars and Suchy’s distinct voice that floats around the sonic landscape, and “Be My Baby” follows with an atmospheric backdrop via the hazy take on the classic tune.
Landing in the middle, “Born To It” makes great use of Jeremy Yivisaker’s thick guitar amid the soaring vocals, while “Broken” offers a heartfelt moment that burns slow and flirts with a country meets shoegaze ambience.
“Don’t Say It’s Over” resides near the end and embraces soulful qualities into the intimate and thumping album highlight that employs Janey Winterbauer’s backing vocals, and “Stone Will Roll” recruits vocal harmonies and a retro flavor that’s charming and memorable.
You can tell a lot of thought and emotion went into these tracks, as Suchy enlists folk, country and Americana gestures around the crunchy moments that sound right at home in today’s indie-rock scene, too.
Travels well with: Kaitlin Cassady- North Star; Sarah Morris- Say Yes