the thing with "The Catalyst" is that it may sound amazing after hearing every other track....like reading a novel...the last chapter is always going to be the best....but having it as the single, people may not understand the context of what came before it. Honestly....I think they should have released a song from closer to the beginging of the album....much like "One Step Closer".
Obviously the band and management listened to the whole album and decided on a single, but hearing the whole album you would understand why "The Catalyst" makes sence.....Am I making sence?