Alive in the Catacombs

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Alive in the Catacombs
QOTSA - Alive In The Catacombs.jpg
Video / live EP by
Queens of the Stone Age
ReleasedJune 5, 2025 (2025-06-05)
RecordedJuly 8, 2024
Venue Catacombs of Paris
Length
  • 28:51 (video)
  • 27:02 (EP)
Label Matador
Producer Mark Rankin
Queens of the Stone Age chronology
In Times New Roman...
(2023)		Alive in the Catacombs
(2025)

Alive in the Catacombs is an acoustic concert film and extended play (EP) by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age. It was released on June 5, 2025. The concert 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.

Contents

Recording and release

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]

In October 2025, the band will begin The Catacombs Tour to support the release of the EP, featuring stripped down versions of songs performed at historic theaters. [7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [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

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

Queens of the Stone Age

Strings

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Alive in the Catacombs
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [11] 18
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [12] 10
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [13] 13
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [14] 6

References

  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
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