FESTIVAL CATACUMBAS —EP2 / The Legacy

In the eastern hemisphere lies a forsaken city — Zouérat. Once a significant hub for iron ore, Zouérat now stands in the heart of a relentless desert, resembling a silent graveyard of sand, iron, and concrete.

Dilapidated barracks, concealed under thick layers of dust, crouch against the constant sandstorms. The wind howls incessantly, whipping through the deserted streets, carrying fine desert sand that settles over everything.

Heavy steel plates and abandoned freight cars serve as the last line of defense against the merciless nature.

It’s early morning. The sun hangs low, casting an eerie, hazy light over the barren landscape.

The old freight yard, once the nucleus of iron ore transport, now lies abandoned and forgotten in a remote hollow. Here, in this desolate wasteland, Mongol tribes settled, having migrated to this city long ago.

Today, the defunct Iron-Ore-Train-Starting-Point, with its network of bunkers, tunnels, and catacombs, is their hood.

It was in the late 2040s when the music industry collapsed like a house of cards. What once were the pulsing heartbeats of the world, full of creativity, glamour, and immortal sounds, are now faded memories.

During this period, the Mongols recognized the true value of music. The Kazakh tribe, descendants of the legendary eagle hunters, understood the importance of preserving this musical heritage for future generations.

Quietly and persistently, they gathered music from all corners of the world. They traveled to the most remote places, scoured abandoned recording studios and private collections, always in search of these lost treasures.

It was a silent mission against oblivion. Every note, every song was a piece of history, a fragment of the human soul that needed to be preserved.

With unparalleled dedication, the Kazakhs built the most extensive music archive the world has ever seen. Hidden deep within the archives of the underground world of the Iron-Ore-Train-Starting-Point, safe from nature’s destructive forces and human greed, millions of music pieces are stored.

This monument became the heart of their existence.

We arrive at the rendezvous in the dusty, foggy landscape. A Kazakh waves us over, his movements calm yet filled with urgency.

“This way,” he says curtly, beckoning us into a building that barely stands out from the surrounding ruins. At first glance, it looks like a derelict garage, but on closer inspection, the façade reveals itself as a deceptive illusion. Behind the exterior lies a solid structure of concrete and steel.

The ground crunches softly under our feet as we venture deeper into the building.

Our guide stops before a massive iron door, almost seamless with the concrete wall. A deep, metallic creak echoes through the space as the door opens, revealing a narrow, descending corridor.

“This way down,” murmurs the Kazakh, leading us further.

Narrow steps take us down into a world hidden from the surface light. With each step, the air grows cooler and damper, wrapping around us like a cold shroud.

The darkness is all-encompassing, interrupted only by flickering lights guiding our path.

After what feels like an endless descent, we reach the heart of the Kazakhs: Sector 850.

Here lies the greatest and most unique sound archive of humanity. A place where the past of music is preserved.

We enter a vast room, its walls lined with shelves reaching to the ceiling, filled with countless recordings, sound carriers, and digital storage. In this treasure trove, we meet Nyam, the guardian of this legacy. A man of quiet, almost meditative presence, his movements precise and methodical.

“Welcome to the heart of our collection,” Nyam says with a faint smile.

“Here we preserve the sounds and melodies that once shaped the world and might do so again. Music from all eras and cultures.”

He has compiled hundreds of hours of the finest auditory material over several months. The result is an unprecedented mix of Pre-, Mid-, and Post-Age sounds — the main setting for three days in the catacombs of Torre Reforma in Mexico City.

Together with his brothers Bajar and Enkh, Nyam will bring a unique musical experience of BIORHYTHM, NEUROBEAT, and CHRONOMIX to the stage. They will transport the audience into a sound world like no other.

“This year will be something special,” says Nyam, his eyes sparkling. “We’ll make the CATACUMBAS shake! No one will ever forget this!”

“And we’ll fling open the gates.”

👊😎🫱 Thx for reading.