LAST FAIR DAY GONE NIGHT

In my opinion this is the live album to get if your into KATATONIA. It was 2011 and it was their 20th anniversary as a band but also the 10th anniversary of one of their greatest releases "Last Fair Deal Gone Down". So they did some special shows including this one at a venue called "Koko" in London, England. It's a two disc affair with the first cd being the complete "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" recording in it's entirety while the second disc features the majority of tracks(5) from what was the most recent album at the time "Night Is The New Day".

It's cool though that they picked at least one song from every album up to that point except for the debut. Although "Viva Emptiness" doesn't get a song but there is one called "Wait Outside" which is from the sessions from that album and it was released on the compilation called "Black sessions" which i bought when it first came out and I highly recommend it. The other track that isn't on a studio album that was included here is "Dissolving Bonds" which is from "The Great Cold Distance" sessions and was included on the EP "My Twin". Another great job from Travis Smith on the cover art keeping the same style from "The Great Cold Distance" and "Night Is The New Day".

Disc one is all of "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" and it's true to the original for the most part as is the second disc. I gave 5 stars to this studio recording and it comes across so well played live as these tracks all kick ass in one way or another. Just a fantastic live version of that record. So many amazing tracks like "Chrome", "We Must Bury You", "The Future Of Speech", "Passing Bird", "Don't Tell A Soul" etc.

Disc two opens surprisingly with "Brave" from "Brave Murder Day". Surprising because I didn't expect to hear growls but they are all over this 10 1/2 minute track. A crowd pleaser no doubt. Some other highlights are "My Twin" a song I really enjoy. Check out Jonas yelling to the crowd out of emotion I'm thinking at one point. We get "I Break" from "Discouraged Ones" which I really appreciate. I have heard "Wait Outside" before from "The Black Sessions" release. This is a really good tune where they contrast the heavy and mellow oh so well. "The Longest Year" brings a lot of emotion to the table for me, and it's from "Night Is The New Day".

July" just kills and it's from "The Great Cold Distance". An amazing track! "Dissolving Bonds" from the "My Twin" EP is heavy with active drum work and I like how the guitar cries out over top. Big finish to this one. And I can't forget "Forsaker" the closer from "Night Is The New Day" and the closer of this concert. Heavy and dark the perfect way to end the show. I like how the crowd starts clapping after 3 minutes as they are so into this. Jonas then screams to the audience when it ends "Thankyou, goodnight... thankyou so much London!" as we hear the crowd yell and clap their approval. Easily 4 stars and the live album to get from these gloomy Swedes.