Alive In The Catacombs

''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.

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. 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, 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."

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. An audio-only version was released in an EP format on June 13, 2025, along with a vinyl edition.

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.

Reception

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. 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." Brig Newspaper said "The percussion is gentle and the strings elevate Homme’s infatuating vocals to new heights- it’s Queens of the Stone Age at their rawest."

Track listing

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

Personnel

Queens of the Stone Age
* Josh Homme – lead vocals, sound director
* Troy Van Leeuwen – acoustic guitar, synth, backing vocals
* Dean Fertita – synth, glockenspiel
* Michael Shuman – acoustic bass guitar, backing vocals
* Jon Theodore – percussion

Strings
* Christelle Lassort Kiki
* Bella June Bozic
* Cécile Lacharme

Additional personnel
* Mark Rankin – sound director
* Gavin Lurssen

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