Alive in the Catacombs

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Alive in the Catacombs
EP cover art
Video / live EP by
Queens of the Stone Age
ReleasedJune 5, 2025 (2025-06-05) (video)
June 13, 2025 (2025-06-13) (EP)
RecordedJuly 8, 2024
VenueCatacombs of Paris
Length
  • 28:51 (video)
  • 27:02 (EP)
LabelMatador
ProducerMark Rankin
Queens of the Stone Age chronology
In Times New Roman...
(2023) 		Alive in the Catacombs
(2025)
Film poster

Alive in the Catacombs is a concert film and extended play (EP) by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It was recorded in the Catacombs of Paris on July 8, 2024, marking the first time a musical act has legally played in the Catacombs with the city's permission. The film was released on June 5, 2025, with an audio-only extended play of the performance coming out on June 13, 2025.

Recording and release

[edit]

Frontman Josh Homme said that playing Album of the Week in Paris gave the band some connections who assisted in getting a recording in the city's Catacombs to happen. They asked a few times and were rejected, about which Homme said, "I never thought it would happen, but there's no reason to stop trying." With the help of an insider Paris official, they eventually received permission, marking the first time a musical act has legally played in the Catacombs with the city's permission.[1][2] The show was filmed a few days after the band announced that some The End is Nero World Tour dates would be canceled due to Homme's health issues; the recording took place on July 4, 2024,[3] and Homme flew back to the U.S. for emergency surgery the following day.

Speaking of the decision to make the concert an acoustic one, Homme discussed the influence of the Catacombs: "We're so stripped down because that place is so stripped down, which makes the music so stripped down, which makes the words so stripped down. It would be ridiculous to try to rock there. All those decisions were made by that space. That space dictates everything, it's in charge. You do what you're told when you're in there."[4]

The film was released digitally on June 5, 2025, along with a documentary by Andreas Neumann called Alive in Paris and Before, featuring the band's process getting ready to record the film.[5] An audio-only version was released in an EP format on June 13, 2025, along with a vinyl edition.[6]

The band embarked on The Catacombs Tour in October 2025 to support the release of the EP, featuring stripped-down and orchestral versions of songs performed at historic theaters.[7]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NMEStarStarStarStar[8]
Spill Magazine5/5[9]

The concert film received positive reviews. Andrew Trendell of NME said it was "starkly beautiful" and that the music "hits differently" when taking into consideration the mini documentary accompanying the film.[5] Spill Magazine added that it's one of the "strongest creative statements from Queens Of The Stone Age, while also serving as an arresting performance that should be among the greatest of live albums."[9]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Running Joke / Paper Machete"Era Vulgaris (2007) / In Times New Roman... (2023)5:32
2."Kalopsia"...Like Clockwork (2013)5:14
3."Villains of Circumstance"Villains (2017)5:57
4."Suture Up Your Future"Era Vulgaris (2007)4:36
5."I Never Came"Lullabies to Paralyze (2005)5:41
Total length:27:02

In the credits for the video version Homme can be heard singing an unreleased song listed under the name "Insignificant Other".[10]

Personnel

[edit]

Queens of the Stone Age

Strings

  • Christelle Lassort Kiki
  • Bella June Bozic
  • Cécile Lacharme

Additional personnel

  • Thomas Rames – director
  • Mark Rankin – sound director
  • Gavin Lurssen – mastering
  • FX Delaby – sound director
  • Henri d'Armancourt – sound director
  • Théo Fauger – director of photography
  • La Blogotheque – production company
  • Ondine Benetier & Anousonne Savanchomkeo – executive producer
  • Esther – production manager
  • Alice Delalle – production assistant
  • Paul Pecastaing – production assistant
  • Louise Taillan – production assistant
  • Yasmina Chambenoit – assistant director
  • Clara Griot – camera operator
  • Titouan Deniaud – camera operator
  • Katia Hamnane – steadicam
  • Alban Lejeune – sound engineer
  • Alexandre Sellem – editor
  • Andreas Neumann – photography and introduction

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Alive in the Catacombs
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 77
Dutch Vinyl Albums (GfK Dutch Charts)[12] 24
Scottish Albums (OCC)[13] 18
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[14] 23
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] 13
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[16] 6
US Top Current Albums (Billboard)[17] 44

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Queens Of The Stone Age announce Alive in the Catacombs concert film". DIY. May 13, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Queens Of The Stone Age (June 5, 2025). Joshua Homme Reddit Interview - June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Broerman, Michael (June 5, 2025). "Queens Of The Stone Age Release 'Alive In The Catacombs' Concert Film [Video]". L4LM. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  4. ^ Jenke, Tyler (May 14, 2025). "Queens of the Stone Age Announce 'Alive in the Catacombs' Concert Film, Album". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (June 5, 2025). "Queens Of The Stone Age – 'Alive In The Catacombs' review: moving and meditative concert doc". NME. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. ^ News, A. B. C. (June 9, 2025). "Queens of the Stone Age announce audio release of ' Alive in the Catacombs' concert film". 105.7 The Point. Retrieved June 9, 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "Queens of the Stone Age Announce "The Catacombs Tour"". Consequence. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Trendell, Andrew. "Alive in the Catacombs – Queens of the Stone Age". NME. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Harris, Gerrod (June 13, 2025). "Spill Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age – Alive in the Catacombs". Spill Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  10. ^ Peebles, Connor (June 12, 2025). "Queens of the Stone Age 'Alive in the Catacombs' Review: A Haunting Return to an Ancient Sound ★★★★★". Brig Newspaper. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  11. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 October 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1857. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 6, 2025. p. 6.
  12. ^ "Dutch Vinyl 33 04/10/25" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  14. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  16. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  17. ^ "Top Current Albums: Week of September 6, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2025.