Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State

Katatonia

Released on 6/06/25 by Napalm Records Handels GmbH
Main artists: Katatonia
Genre: Metal

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The grand masters of melancholy with a goth twist, Katatonia made the decision a while back to distance themselves from their doom roots, going on to incorporate increasingly more progressive and atmospheric elements into their version of melodic metal. Almost 35 years after the group first stepped onto the scene, their continuing evolution has given rise to a thirteenth album that feels like a mixture of different ingredients from their past releases, rather than an attempt to go off the beaten path at all costs. Much like the album’s title, its hostile overture (“Thrice”) excels at setting an unsettling, somber tone, before quickly making way for songs with a more typical Katatonia sound, for those already familiar with their repertoire.

Once again, the group has devised music that strikes a balance between warlike rhythms (“Wind of No Change,” “In the Event of”), vocals that alternate between sadness and tranquility, and layers of synth to top it all off. This cocktail may not necessarily be surprising, but it still hits the mark, especially on account of the fresh blood brought in by the two guitarists who have joined the ranks of these wistful gents: Sebastian Svalland, heard as part of Pain, and Nico Elgstrand, who we’ve seen with Entombed (and Entombed A.D.). The album begins to wrap up with a pleasant surprise: “Efter Solen,” sung in Swedish, has a smooth piano intro that then trails off into sophisticated electro-synth horizons, adding variety to an album that fans of the group’s other recent releases will love. © Guillaume Ley/Qobuz

Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State

Katatonia

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Thrice