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KATATONIA

Progressive Metal • Sweden


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Katatonia biography
Founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1991 - Still active as of 2019

KATATONIA have constantly evolved throughout their career but this has been particularly the case since 2012's ''Dead Eng Kings'', which showed a growing influence from progressive rock, and a significant turn towards progressive metal in 2016 with ''Fall of Hearts'', qualifying them for inclusion in PA.

This latter album shows influences from OPETH, SOEN and PORCUPINE TREE with longer, more elaborate compositions compared to the typical 3-4 minute compositions of the band's last 15 years' history, where the focus was mainly on alternative melodic metal. Despite this, progressive rock influences can be found also in albums such as Viva Emptiness and Night is the New Day.

....

Founded in 1991 by Jonas RENSKE and Anders NYSTROM, the Stockholm, Sweden based act initiated its career as a death/doom band, featuring dark dirges akin to early ANATHEMA, PARADISE LOST and MY DYING BRIDE. While starting off as a studio based act, the pressure to tour resulted in the creation of a full lineup that would consistently evolve throughout the group?s career trajectory. While their first two releases, "Dance of December Souls" (1993) and "Brave Murder Day" (1996) featured prominent harsh vocals, with the latter release involving Mikael ÅKERFELDT no less, "Discouraged Ones" (1998) shed much of the more extreme elements of their sound (including the harsh vocals in favor of a smooth, clean delivery) without reducing the somber and gloomy characteristics.

The band were then signed to Peaceville Records in which they released "Tonight's Decision" in 1999, in which Dan SWANO was recruited as a session drummer. The following year saw KATATONIA finally maintain a stable lineup. With RENSKE (vocals), NYSTROM (guitars), Fredrik NORRMAN (guitars), Mattias NORRMAN (bass) and Daniel LILJEKVIST (drums) as a tight unit, the band released "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" in 2001, an album that pushed the band further away from their doom metal roots and towards a more alternative metal style in the vein of groups such as A PERFECT CIRCLE. The band ended that year on a high note, touring with OPETH. In 2003, the band released "Viva Emptiness", further increasing not only their shift in style, but general popularity as well as they toured relentlessly during the months after that release. In 2006, "The Great Cold Distance" was released, and being their biggest success commercially and critically up...
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KATATONIA discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

KATATONIA top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.40 | 65 ratings
Dance Of December Souls
1993
3.77 | 76 ratings
Brave Murder Day
1996
3.83 | 65 ratings
Discouraged Ones
1998
3.33 | 64 ratings
Tonight's Decision
1999
4.13 | 100 ratings
Last Fair Deal Gone Down
2001
4.21 | 92 ratings
Viva Emptiness
2003
3.95 | 102 ratings
The Great Cold Distance
2006
4.02 | 94 ratings
Night Is The New Day
2009
3.99 | 97 ratings
Dead End Kings
2012
3.41 | 60 ratings
Dethroned & Uncrowned
2013
4.03 | 237 ratings
The Fall Of Hearts
2016
3.61 | 89 ratings
City Burials
2020
3.68 | 61 ratings
Sky Void of Stars
2023

KATATONIA Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.38 | 15 ratings
Live Consternation
2007
4.05 | 23 ratings
Last Fair Day Gone Night
2013
4.13 | 28 ratings
Sanctitude
2015
4.00 | 8 ratings
The Great Cold Distance (Live In Bulgaria)
2017
3.37 | 11 ratings
Dead Air
2020

KATATONIA Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.47 | 17 ratings
Sanctitude
2015

KATATONIA Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 3 ratings
Brave Yester Days
2004
4.17 | 6 ratings
The Black Sessions
2005
4.00 | 5 ratings
Discouraged Ones + Brave Murder Day
2007
4.00 | 4 ratings
Introducing Katatonia
2013
3.77 | 16 ratings
Mnemosynean
2021

KATATONIA Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 9 ratings
Jhva Elohim Meth
1992
2.00 | 1 ratings
Rehearsal '92
1992
3.07 | 18 ratings
For Funeral To Come
1995
3.75 | 16 ratings
Sounds of Decay
1997
3.29 | 15 ratings
Saw You Drown
1998
3.83 | 12 ratings
Teargas
2001
3.67 | 9 ratings
Tonight's Music
2001
3.20 | 5 ratings
My Twin
2006
3.20 | 5 ratings
Deliberation
2006
3.60 | 5 ratings
July
2007
3.40 | 5 ratings
Day And Then The Shade
2010
3.70 | 10 ratings
The Longest Year
2010
4.00 | 3 ratings
Buidings
2012
4.00 | 4 ratings
Lethean
2012
3.94 | 13 ratings
Kocytean
2014
4.33 | 3 ratings
Proscenium
2017
4.25 | 4 ratings
Birds
2023
3.00 | 3 ratings
A Sunset Choir for the Daylight Harvest
2023

KATATONIA Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 A Sunset Choir for the Daylight Harvest by KATATONIA album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2023
3.00 | 3 ratings

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A Sunset Choir for the Daylight Harvest
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "A Sunset Choir For The Daylight Harvest" is an EP release by Swedish death/doom metal (later alternative/progressive metal) act Katatonia. The EP was released through Night of the Vinyl Dead Records in January 2023. The original 7" vinyl version of the EP is limited to 500 copies, but the EP is also available digitally. "A Sunset Choir For The Daylight Harvest" is a re-recording of Katatonia´s 1992 rehearsal demo and the re-recordings were done only by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström (under their original pseudonyms Lord Seth and Blackheim respectively) without contributions from the remaining members of the 2023 version of Katatonia. This is not the first release of the material, as the two re-recorded tracks were first featured on the March 2022 "Melancholium" (Darkness Shall Rise Productions) boxed set.

Needless to say that there is a big difference in sound quality between the original rehearsal demo versions of the songs and these professional studio re-recordings, but if that´s not exactly a surprise, the authenticity and respectful performances of the re-recordings are a bit more astonishing. Especially given the development of Katatonia´s music from 1992 until these re-recordings were done in 2021. But on the other hand maybe one shouldn´t be so surprised as Renkse and Nyström have always kept in touch with their extreme metal roots and have of course also been active in their death metal Bloodbath project when they weren´t busy with their day job in Katatonia. So recording respectful and authentic versions of material they wrote in the early 90s, which is far removed from the latter day sound of Katatonia, maybe isn´t that surprising after all.

Stylistically this is dark, doomy, and melancholic death metal which is strongly influenced by Paradise Lost´s 1991 "Gothic" album. Renkse has a slighlty more aggressive blackened edge to his growling style than Nick Holmes, but the instrumental part of the music has many similarities to the legendary Brits and their equally legendary "Gothic" album. Soaring melancholic leads, ultra heavy riffs, and slow doomy drumming (parts of "Sunset Choir" features faster-paced drumming though). All the ingredients of that particular sound are here and accounted for. One could have feared that the great respectful performances could have been ruined by a clean and sterile production job, but again Katatonia show that they have great taste and understanding of how music written in the early 90s should sound. This sound production has just the right amount of grit and gloom while still being detailed and clear, that you´re transported to exactly the right place, which is one of the functions and success criterias of a well executed production job. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

 Rehearsal '92 by KATATONIA album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1992
2.00 | 1 ratings

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Rehearsal '92
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

— First review of this album —
2 stars "Rehearsal '92" is the second demo recording by Swedish death/doom metal (later alternative/progressive metal) act Katatonia. The demo was independently released on cassette tape ni October 1992. It features the songs "Daylight Harvest" and "Sunset Choir", which are not on the tracklist on the preceding demo release "Jhva Elohim Meth" (July 1992). In fact the two tracks were recorded shortly after the recording sessions for "Jhva Elohim Meth". The tracks would not be included on Katatonia´s debut full-length studio album "Dance of December Souls" (December 1993). Katatonia opted to re-record the two tracks in 2021 and include them on the March 2022 "Melancholium" (Darkness Shall Rise Productions) boxed set and they would also subsequently be released as the January 2023 "A Sunset Choir For The Daylight Harvest" EP.

This original rehearsal demo is a pretty lo-fi, murky, and raw sounding affair. Stylistically it´s obvious that Katatonia at this point were strongly influenced by the 1991 "Gothic" album by Paradise Lost, as their melancholic death/doom metal sound is in many ways similar to the sound of that particular album by the Brits. I´m not sure how Katatonia managed to record guitar harmonies on a rehearsal demo recording done by only two persons (Dan Swanö does guest on keyboards here though, so maybe he contributed other instruments too), but other than that detail, the basic tracks were recorded live in the rehearsal space. Although the sound quality leaves a bit to be desired it´s still audible that both tracks are great melancholic death/doom metal tracks and those who enjoy early Katatonia (and Paradise Lost) should find entertainment value here. I can recommend seeking out the re-recorded versions of the two tracks, as they are both respectful towards the originals and feature the right amount of authenticity plus professional production values. A 2.5 star (50%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

 Jhva Elohim Meth by KATATONIA album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1992
3.00 | 9 ratings

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Jhva Elohim Meth
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "Jhva Elohim Meth" is the first demo recording by Swedish death/doom metal (later alternative/progressive metal) act Katatonia. The demo was independently released in July 1992. The first cassette tape batch was limited to 500 copies. Edge of Sanity frontman Dan Swanö was involved in the production of the demo and he also plays keyboards/sings additional clean vocals, helping out Blackheim (electric & acoustic guitars, bass) and Lord Seth (drums and vocals).

The demo features five tracks and a total playing time of 17:11 minutes. The two songs bookending the demo are shorter intro and outro tracks, while the three tracks in between are more "regular" length melancholic death/doom metal tracks. Only "Without God" from this demo would make it unto Katatonia´s debut full-length studio album "Dance of December Souls" (December 1993). The remaining tracks are exclusive to this release.

Stylistically the material is influenced by early Paradise Lost, but also other contemporary Swedish artists like early Tiamat and Cemetary. The very young band, who were only 17 years old (both members) at the time of recording this have created a very convincing good quality demo here, which also features a well sounding production job. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

 Sky Void of Stars by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.68 | 61 ratings

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Sky Void of Stars
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by ssmarcus

3 stars Katatonia is a band that consistently underwhelms. Despite a strong vocalist and a truly unique sonic palette, Katatonia albums always felt like dragged out snooze fests. Katatonia often forgoes riff-driven metal for a more intimate and layered sound. Riffs make their appearance to be sure but they're second to the atmosphere and mood generated by the layered guitar and synth work. On paper, this is an approach I absolutely should adore. But somehow, the records seem to fall flat and meander. Despite this, I still make the time to listen to their new releases in the hope that the band will release something that is both true to their genuinely unique sound but also has a pulse.

Sky Void of Stars is an album that still falls short of my expectations for the group but, nevertheless, was still the most enjoyable experience I've had listening to one of this group's records. There are several memorable hooks and riffs that buoy the melancholic atmosphere and prevent the record from descending into the melancholic meandering drudgery I am used to.

 Sky Void of Stars by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.68 | 61 ratings

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Sky Void of Stars
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "Sky Void Of Stars" is the thirteenth full-length studio album by Swedish metal act Katatonia. The album was released through Napalm Records in January 2023. It´s the successor to "City Burials" from April 2020. The album features the same quintet lineup who recorded the predecessor. Once again lead vocalist Jonas Renkse is the main composer of the material as guitarist Anders "Blackheim" Nyström is still suffering from writers block (I read an interview with Renkse where he confirmed this).

While the material on "Sky Void Of Stars" is generally slightly harder edged than the material on "City Burials" (only slightly though, as this is by no means a particularly heavy release), this album still features a similar atmospheric and melancholic alternative/progressive rock/metal style to the predecessor. Renkse´s melancholic and emotional vocals are the focus of attention, but the tracks also feature solid instrumental performances. Katatonia are true professionals and it´s audible in everything they do. While the band have tweaked and developed their sound over the years, it´s been a few years and albums since they´ve released anything surprising and honestly monotony has begun to set in. It´s almost like they´ve become too accomplished at what they do, and every new release therefore sounds too safe and formulaic. I think I remember saying this about "City Burials" too, but I´ll say it again here...

...the sound production choices are also similar to the sound found on "City Burials" and again it would be nice to hear Katatonia travel down a different sonic road and challenge themselves and their audience. I´m probably being a bit unfair here, as "Sky Void Of Stars" objectively is a high quality release, and if this is your entry point to Katatonia you´re likely to love it, but to us old fans, who have followed them and the development of their sound since the early 90s, it´s pretty obvious by now that they´ve stagnated and are rehashing tried and true musical ideas. And when they do try something a little different like they do on "Birds", it´s really not that different, as that song more or less sounds like a cover of Paradise Lost (a band Katatonia have always had some similarities to) with Renkse singing.

"Sky Void Of Stars" features a clear, professional, and detailed sound production, where everything is audible in the mix. It´s very polished and could have prospered from some bite and rawness, but that´s not how Katatonia want their music presented anymore. Despite my reservations towards "Sky Void Of Stars", it´s still a quality release from Katatonia, although it´s often a bit dull and lacking punch. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives)

 Last Fair Deal Gone Down by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2001
4.13 | 100 ratings

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Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by Idaho

3 stars Heavy, dark guitar-driven music with modern vocals. The metal lightens up at times but the mood never does. I'm reminded frequently of Opeth--both dark progressive metal from Sweden. But "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" doesn't have the growls that Opeth often does.

This is good music--well-produced, well-performed, smart. The most popular track--at least according to number of plays on streaming platforms--is "Teargas," but the album is consistently good. There isn't a bad song on it. That being said, there's nothing entirely original here. If you like dark progressive metal like Opeth--and especially if you like this type of music without the growls--you'll like this. If you prefer more traditional or more unique progressive metal, it's still worth a listen. Opeth fans will likely rate this higher than my 3.5 stars.

 Sky Void of Stars by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.68 | 61 ratings

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Sky Void of Stars
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by Negoba
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Solid Melodic Goth / Doom undercut by Overproduction

Katatonia have been at it for a long time, and have settled into their current sound which involves clean vocals, a wall of sound that includes multiple guitars and keys, mostly middle tempo songs, scattered prog elements, and a dark but not overly dreary flavor. In general, I enjoy goth metal, and yearn for good metal that lacks guttural vocals. I am a good target audience for this album.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through the album the first time through. There is a same-ness to the textures and tone that was almost boring for me. The main reason for this is the very common modern pattern of overproduction. The drums sound like they've been heavily quantized and everything snapped to the grid. There is a lot of compression on the mix such that dynamics are minimal. The guitar tone is very scooped and disappears behind the drums except for a bit of textural wash. The wall o' reverbed, detuned guitars muddies the riffs - and riffs are the heart of metal!

The good news is that on multiple listens, my ear got accustomed to the production and started to pick out the riffs, the melodies, and even occasionally - groove. I could hear the little prog moments (there aren't a lot), and appreciate the changes in texture when they happened. I can honestly say that at this point, I enjoy this album.

Depending on the soundman, I could see this material being a lot of fun to see live. Live music can pull out dynamics and rhythm so much more than recorded versions. The elements are there in the compositions on "Sky Void of Stars," they just aren't delivered here to the degree that I'd like.

Favorite songs - "Austerity" "Colossal Shade" "Atrium"

 Sky Void of Stars by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.68 | 61 ratings

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Sky Void of Stars
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by A Crimson Mellotron
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Sweden's gothic rock-leaning prog metal legends Katatonia released their thirteenth studio album in January of 2023, after two very solid previous releases, 2016's 'The Fall of Hearts' and 2020's 'City Burials', seemingly following up and expanding that well-established on these aforementioned albums sound that depicts them as a mature metal band enjoying their prime years by writing epic and upliftingly dark prog-shaded songs that sit very well within the ears of the listener. 'Sky Void of Stars' continues this trend, and it has to be said that it comprises a very nice addition to their already-excellent catalogue - the album is like an organic blend of the previous two releases, kind of taking the grave nature of 'The Fall of Hearts' and mixing it with the seemingly uninviting but surprisingly comforting ether of the songs found on 'City Burials'.

With all of this said, it is worth mentioning that this is quite an enjoying album, I find it working very well as a whole, it has been very intelligently constructed and above all, it contains some very beautiful moments, where the band is certainly at the top of their game. While it might not be rivaling iconic records like 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' or 'Brave Murder Day', this one is a gorgeous snapshot of where Katatonia is at the moment, in what I consider their most melodic and beautiful period, also a period where the band's name has certainly become synonymous with quality, if this has not been as strongly established before. Among the highlights of 'Sky Void of Stars' one shall find 'Austerity', 'Colossal Shade', 'Birds', 'Impermanence', 'Atrium', and the bonus track 'Absconder' - some of these truly have the potential of becoming classics of the Swedes' catalogue. A great new release for Katatonia by all means.

 Sky Void of Stars by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.68 | 61 ratings

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Sky Void of Stars
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by BrufordFreak
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars One of Sweden's oldest and most consistent masters of dark prog metal release their 13th studio album since 1992.

1. "Austerity" (3:41) cool KARNIVOOL-like song and vocal performance. (I understand how wrong this reference is since Ian Kenny and his Aussie bandmates were barely out of diapers when Katatonia launched its career but my knowledge and familiarity of Karnivool's music preceded that of my Katatonia awareness.) Excellent guitar solo in the second minute. Great choruses. A top three song for me. (8.75/10)

2. "Colossal Shade" (4:29) opens like some 1980s power metal but then enters the 21st Century with some great effects and djenty guitar play. (8.75/10)

3. "Opaline" (5:00) through the first minute of this song I feel as if I should prepare myself for some kind of Linkin Park performance pyrotechnics, but the song turns out to be far more straightforward and melodic than I expected. (9/10)

4. "Birds (4:08) great performances from the rhythm section, weak vocal. (8.667/10)

5. "Drab Moon (3:59) is this KARNIVOOL? Hearing this song begs the question: Did Mariusz Duda hear Katatonia before gathering his musical credits? before he helped form RIVERSIDE? (8.5/10)

6. "Author" (4:17) now this is more like what I like in my atmospheric metal music! (I am, after all, a attested fan of all-things djenty.) By far my favorite song on this album! I love the extreme dynamic shifts and atmospheric keys, subdued vocal performance and djenty guitar sections. (9.5/10)

7. "Impermanence" (5:12) I hear a little Cy Curnin (THE FIXX) in this vocal performance. (8.75/10)

8. "Sclera" (4:45) nice sounding but so very simple--both compositionally and vocal/melodically. (8.5/10)

9. "Atrium" (4:08) as melodic as anything Ian Kenny and his KARNIVOOL mates have done. In fact, this is almost a straight-forward rock ballad! (8.75/10)

10. "No Beacon to Illuminate Our Fall" (6:08) again, it's the dynamic range of this song that brings me in--even though some of the heavier stuff is a bit repellent. That fourth minute is spell-binding. Unfortunately, it flows into the less-than-impressive chorus section. Still, this is probably my final top three song. (8.75/10)

Total Time 45:47

I do not find this music to be nearly as dark as others have written. In fact, I find it much more melodic and uplifting--reminding me quite a little of KARNIVOOL's wonderful 2013 minor masterpiece, Asymmetry. The excellent drumming and bass contributions to this album's music are always so solid, so noticeable. I've listened to Katatonia albums before but none have grabbed hold of me as well as this one. This might help inspire me to go back into their rather extensive discography.

B+/4.5 stars; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection.

 Sky Void of Stars by KATATONIA album cover Studio Album, 2023
3.68 | 61 ratings

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Sky Void of Stars
Katatonia Progressive Metal

Review by patrishiou

5 stars Katatonia's last is an absolute monster of dark music. That's right, any label goes just well with Katatonia, prog, goth rock, metal, doom metal (not now though), electro-goth, whatever you want really, but encompassing every one of these genres we have total and utter darkness. That is the essence: Cold, autumn music, charged atmospheras and profound lyrics, and that is something Katatonia never failed to acomplish. With this record, they've perfected the craft, and managed to, in some way, represent the same exact feelings within a million different sounds, constructing even well sounding, almost poppy hooks without really getting rid of any of those chilling elements that make katatonia the band it is.

+ The production of this record is just marvelous, different. Entering the world of "Sky Void of Stars" is entering to a crisp, dark yet clear environment, with layered guitars and huge sounding drums. It is not a normal sounding production, and I love that (some may hate it).

+ If well Jonas is known for not experimenting much with his vocal timbre, and use to stay low register, sounding like a lord of darkness, in this record he drops some glimpses of a new Jonas with the capacity to break dynamics through high notes, having as a result some beautiful sounding choruses and vocal lines.

+ Joel's participation is amazing, "Impermanence" is the more emotional song in the record. Oh, and the fills in this album, awesome, very 80's sounding drums.

January 20, 2023 was a big day for metalheads within the prog community, between this and Riversides'. Maybe I still consumed by the hype of the release, but I don't really care at this point, this just sounds great and I'll come back to it.

Best track: Author (that hook omfg), Austerity (that bridge, god), Opaline (it's just that good).

Weaker track: Probably Birds, there is just something weird about those guitars.

Thanks to rdtprog for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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