Artist: Abigail Austin
Album: The Catalyst
Released: October 10, 2025; Say-10 Records
“The Catalyst” marks a change in career trajectory for Abigail Austin. Her former work focused more on the folk genre, while this album, as you will soon see, is something very different. This album was my introduction to Abigail so, I am not going to bother comparing and contrasting her old stuff versus the new, but I will say that she clearly is a seasoned musician and it shows.
Before we get into the meat of this review, I wanted to say something about the naming conventions used for songs on this album. They are all clever, witty, and a little punny at times. To a certain extent, they remind me of Mid 2000’s emo song names, while not being as absurd as some of the more notable examples of that era. I enjoy them immensely. I am really only bringing this up to prepare y’all for the name drop of my favorite song. It is everything I mentioned above as well as being unnecessarily horny— “The Shape of the Country to Cum” This song was an instant sell to me on the whole album. It’s got a power in its music and vocal performance that is reminiscent of a really good Cher ballade. Lyrically I think it would be fair to read this as some type of road song. However, I believe that the road is a metaphor for finding yourself and leaving the old you behind. There is something incredibly empowering in that thought and how it is conveyed by the song.
“Ultimate Frisbee on astroTeRF” is the type of love song that gets written at the resolution of a relationship that doesn’t end so well. It’s self reflective about what makes a good relationship and how that failed one ultimately didn’t provide that. It’s honestly just a really solid song. I love the beat, the hook, and the message.
Last, “Red Flag Forestry Service” is a dark and gloomy look at the state of the United States and how it has historically failed to live up to the promises presented by the myths of the country. I also believe it spends a little bit of time making reference to how American society tends to place blame for it’s systemic failings on those who it most disenfranchises. Blaming the poor for being poor, etc… The line ‘why would the world of man teach a worm to stand’ to me is about how those disenfranchised individuals then begin to internalize all that propaganda and in short begin to except the unwarranted blame that is force upon them. As a whole, it is a pretty apt look at America and it is delivered in a sorrowful respect that I think the topic deserves.
Abigail Austin’s, “The Catalyst” delivers everything I love about 80s pop rock divas like Cher and Bonnie Tyler, but reimagines it in a modern synth wave packaging that is unique and up lifting. This is a much welcomed evolution in Abigail’s career path. I hope she stays the course moving forward. I would love to see more music in this vain from her and that is coming from someone who loves folk music so, you know this is seriously good stuff.
If you like the album I reviewed here and want to support the artist as well as this blog please consider picking up the album via this affiliate link—> Purchase The Catalyst by Abigail Austin digitally via Amazon Music