Alive in the Catacombs

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Alive in the Catacombs
Live album / video by
Queens of the Stone Age
ReleasedJune 5, 2025 (2025-06-05)
Recorded8 July 2024
VenueParis Catacombs
Length28:51 (Video) 27:02 (Audio)
LabelMatador
Queens of the Stone Age chronology
In Times New Roman...
(2023) 		Alive in the Catacombs
(2025)

Alive in the Catacombs is an acoustic live concert film and EP by Queens of the Stone Age. It was recorded on July 8, 2024, in the Paris Catacombs.[1] The film marks the first time a band has legally played in the catacombs with the city's permission.[2]

Recording and release

[edit]

Recorded on July 8, 2024, Josh Homme said of the production that playing Album of the Week in Paris gave the band some connections assisting in getting the catacombs recording to happen. They asked a few times and were rejected. Homme said "I never thought it would happen, but theres no reason to stop trying." Eventually with the help of an insider Paris official they were green lit.[3]

The show was filmed right as the band canceled their remaining The End is Nero World Tour dates due to Homme's dwindling health. He then flew back to the United States the following day for emergency surgery.

Speaking of the acoustic nature if the film Homme said “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,” he explains. “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 5 June 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 13 June 2025 along with a vinyl edition.[6]

Reception

[edit]

The live film has received positive reviews. Andrew Trendell of NME said the film was "starkly beautiful" and that the music "hits differently" when taking into consideration the mini documentary the film was released with.[5]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Album of The Year89/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
NME[7]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Running Joke/ Paper Machete"Era Vulgaris/ In Times New Roman...5:32
2."Kalopsia"...Like Clockwork5:14
3."Villains of Circumstance"Villains5:57
4."Suture Up Your Future"Era Vulgaris4:36
5."I Never Came"Lullabies to Paralyze5:41
Total length:27:02

Personnel

[edit]

Queens of the Stone Age

Strings

  • Christelle Lassort Kiki
  • Bella June Bozic
  • Cécile Lacharme

Additional Personnel

  • Mark Rankin - Sound Director
  • Gavin Lurssen - Mastering
  • Marie Delaby - Sound Director
  • Henri d'Armancourt - Sound Director
  • Théo Fauger - Director of Photography
  • La Blogotheque - Produced By
  • Anousonne Savanchomkeo - Executive Producer
  • Esther - Production Manager
  • Alice - Production Assistant
  • Paul - Production Assistant
  • Louise - Production Assistant
  • Yasmina Chambenoit - Assistant Director
  • Clara Griot - Camera Operator
  • Titouan Deniaud - Camera Operator
  • Katia Hamnane - Steadicam
  • Alban Lejeune - Sound Engineer
  • Andreas Neumann - Photography & Introduction

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Broerman, Michael (2025-06-05). "Queens Of The Stone Age Release 'Alive In The Catacombs' Concert Film [Video]". L4LM. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  2. ^ "Queens Of The Stone Age announce Alive in the Catacombs concert film". DIY. 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  3. ^ Queens Of The Stone Age (2025-06-05). Joshua Homme Reddit Interview - June 5, 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-07 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Jenke, Tyler (2025-05-14). "Queens of the Stone Age Announce 'Alive in the Catacombs' Concert Film, Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  5. ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (2025-06-05). "Queens Of The Stone Age – 'Alive In The Catacombs' review: moving and meditative concert doc". NME. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  6. ^ News, A. B. C. (2025-06-09). "Queens of the Stone Age announce audio release of ' Alive in the Catacombs' concert film". 105.7 The Point. Retrieved 2025-06-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Trendell, Andrew. "Alive in the Catacombs – Queens of the Stone Age". NME. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  8. ^ "Alive in the Catacombs – Queens of the Stone Age". Album of the Year. Retrieved 2025-06-07.