This is a review I've been contemplating for a while now. Katatonia are a band of several phases, and mean lots of things to lots of people, but here is my opinion, which is by no means definitive. Your opinions are welcome too!
Discography
Jhva Elohim Meth... the Revival |1992
Dance Of December Souls |1993
For Funerals to Come |1995
Brave Murder Day 1996
Sounds of Decay 1997
Saw You Drown |1998
Discouraged Ones |1998
Tonight's Decision |1999
Tonight's Music | 2001 (November)
Teargas | 2001 (February)
Last Fair Deal Gone Down | 2001 (May)
Viva Emptiness | 2003
The Black Sessions | 2005
The Great Cold Distance | 2006
My Twin,
Deliberation,
July | 2006, 2007
Live Consternation | 2007
Night Is The New Day | 2009
Jhva Elohim Meth... The Revival
This was the EP version of the demo tape (which did not have the '...The Revival' in it's title). We see some songs which re-appear later on in various forms such as
Without God. Overall, it's a great demo, and... alas, for the days Jonas sounded so brutal. Good, solid debut. 70/100
Dance of December Souls
This album is Katatonia's first 'proper' try. These were still the days were Jonas sounded like Mikael Akerfeltd's chain smoking alter-ego, and for Katatonia, things were looking good. This album is packed with death/doom classics, and should be a must have for doom fans. To start -
In Silence Enshrined is a good example of the album. The sound is morbid, with mid paced drumming, gloom and doom riffs and fleeting changes in tempo. Heavy stuff. 78/100
For Funerals To Come
An EP, four tracks. Even though it is short, do not disregard it. Many of Katatonia's gems are stuck on EPs. This makes pleasing listening for fans of death/doom again, with the excellent
Shades of Emerald Fields and
For Funerals to Come standing out. 72/100
Brave Murder Day
In one word: Classic. Brave Murder Day came after Katatonia's future was thrown into doubt by vocalist Jonas Renske's voice issues (meaning no less than Mikael Akerfeltd handles death vocals here). This album is literally 6 amazing songs. The album does seem to hint slightly at Katatonia's future, with Jonas only contributing clean vocals. Even so, songs such as
Brave and
Day make this album unforgettable. There is no stylistic change yet, and this album is simply the best album made by Katatonia during their doom/death period. The album is faster, and has better harsh vocals than previous efforts, with small melodic sections such as 'Day' giving this album a flowing brilliance. 85/100
Sounds of Decay
A strange release now. The album artwork is from the cult film 'Begotten', and Jonas Renske's voice is not aired, being replaced by Mikael's once more, though this time in their entirety. The EP is worth picking up, as it is Katatonia's last affair with all things death/doom. 70/100
Saw You Drown
This is a true find, as it is sadly now very rare (Today the EP is a true collectors' item and was recently issued on clear/blue wax 10" LP in 1000 hand-numbered copies). It is a gem however. Two of the tracks -
Saw You Drown and
Nerve are later found on their next album (and will be reviewed then) and the song
Scarlet Heavens was a track on the 1996 10'' split demo. The remaining track
Quiet World is therefore very rare, though file sharing has reduced this considerably. All in all, this is Katatonia beginning to change. It's still very doom laden, but with refreshing (if depressing) clean vocals, this is well worth your time. 80/100
Discouraged Ones
A personal favourite. From the opener
I Break on, this is a spellbinding, molten slab of depressive rock music. Jonas Renske's lyrics are... enthralling in their nihilistic, hopeless style. Katatonia appear as if their change in style was effortless, the album flows and ebbs, sucking the listener into it's despairing grasp. On their own, several songs are just stand out quality, such as
Deadhouse,
Saw You Drown and
Cold Ways. Katatonia now seem to be a channel of Renske's thoughts, as he considers depression, loss and depths we can barely imagine. A hypnotic, lyrical and musical masterpiece. As if speaking on the new direction of his band, in Saw You Drown, Jonas states;
'
To leave this all behind
The only way to stay. 95/100
Tonight's Decision
This was my first Katatonia album. All cliches aside, I remember getting the CD, putting it on, sitting with the lyrics book open and being really taken aback by how...
good it was. It remains an album very close to me, as the lyrics at times seem to mirror my experiences, and I'm sure many others share this experience.
Stylistically, this is less heavy, and more melancholic than previous albums, yet that may even add to the power of the vocals, which are delivered typically well by Renske. The vocals do sound different, and certainly a lot rawer and less refined, though more emotional here. There is no attempt at a lively sound, this is bleak, yet very, very beautiful. With songs like
I Am Nothing, and the
Jeff Buckley cover
Nightmares by the Sea, who can complain? 95/100
Tonight's Music, Teargas
Two EPs showing the style of the next full length album, with the song
Teargas in particular a stand out. Again, these two short EPs contain tracks that are rare - and are rewarding for fans. 75/100
Last Fair Deal Gone Down
This is another great album. Far, far more polished production here is a hallmark of later Katatonia. The overall structure of songs and their delivery are a lot more pleasing to a wider audience, yet Katatonia's unique melancholy and depressive style are still very present. At times, the new clean sound is simply a stage for Renske's disturbing, dark lyrics. Some excellent songs here -
Teargas,
Passing Bird and
Chrome are just three of many great, flowing yet still very meaningful songs. Much pleasure can be found from repeated listens, as the lyrics and themes of the tracks truly come through. 90/100
Viva Emptiness
Another astonishing album. Simply breathtaking, as the first three songs pound past (
Ghost of the Sun,
Sleeper,
Criminals). Aggression is here, oh yes, but so is the regretful, thoughtful prose of Renske's dark lyrics, as he shows us the window to his inner demons. Intriguing songs here are abundant, such as
Evidence in particular. Dark, heavy, excellent. Katatonia have found another sound. 92/100
--Black Sessions, best of. --
My Twin, Deliberation, July
-Apologies, other images would not fit and messed up the layout-
These three EPs (or just singles really) are gems. The remixes such as the In The White (urban dub), and B-Sides from the next album are excellent. On July,
Unfurl stands out. It is rare that one finds such an expressive, beautiful, and yet so simple a song, as we are held in rapture by Jonas's vocals over guitar and an simple beat. Another notable B-Side is
Code against the code. Overall 90/100
The Great Cold Distance
What words do it justice? Inspirational? Masterwork? This is the pinnacle of Katatonia thus far, all the refinement of Viva and Last..., while the themes and lyrics remain so soul wrenching and personal that you appreciate the songs even more on each listen. There is a sense of urgency to
Leaders shown in Jonas's rare shout, and to
The Itch. This is an album of great tracks, great lyrics, melodies, everything.
In the White,
Deliberation, and
Follower are the songs I will cherry pick, but each song is stand out brilliance. The songs meanings, like all Katatonia songs, are food for thought, and every person can gain their own meanings accordingly, making for a perfect, dare I say it, album. This is the sound of a band doing what they were born to do. My score however reflects that I personally got sick of the album after around 60 play throughs in a week or so! 90/100
Live Consternation
A great live album, superb sound quality. Mainly new songs from TGCD, but several old favourites like 'Cold Ways' and Right Into The Bliss. For fans. 85/100
---
Night Is The New Day Review---
Overall Top Ten Katatonia Tracks
Katatonia is:
Jonas Renkse
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström
Fredrik "North" Norrman
Mattias "Kryptan" Norrman
Daniel Liljekvist
Related side projects/bands
October Tide
Bloodbath
Opeth
I hope that was coherent and helpful. I love the band, they have been such an influence on my life, outlook and musical taste. Comment, share your thoughts! I'll leave you with this.
Hand of a leader
Bleached by snowfall
Position is a drug
The great end is sweeping in
The dark will rise
Abandon your freedom
Give up the right to find the true self
Forsake your own reasons
Forsaker
Also read:
Ulver review
Night Is The New Day Review
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