Katatonia
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Genre(s) | Death Doom metal (early and mid) Gothic rock, Gothic metal (mid-career) Alternative rock/Alternative metal (later works) |
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| Years active | 1991 – 1996 1997 – present |
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| Label(s) | Peaceville Records Vic Records |
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| Website | http://www.katatonia.com/ | |
| Members | ||
| Jonas Renkse Anders Nyström Fred Norrman Mattias Norrman Daniel Liljekvist |
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Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1991 by Jonas Renkse (formerly Lord Seth) and Anders Nyström (formerly Blackheim). Katatonia is noted for the overall melancholy of its sound, often giving them the classification of doom metal or depressive rock. Many critics note a progression in sound from the former to the latter as the band's career has progressed.
The early releases of the band feature mostly harsh vocals and can stylistically be considered as a mixture of doom and death metal. Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt performed the harsh vocals on Brave Murder Day and Sounds of Decay after regular Katatonia singer (and then drummer) Jonas Renkse became unable to scream properly. Katatonia had a mini-breakup circa 1996-1997, but reunited later. During this time, the band decided to change their sound to a more soft sound with clean vocals beginning with 1998's Discouraged Ones. This shift in instrumental tone and vocal style was accompanied by an appreciable decrease in the length of the band's songs, with latter period songs typically lasting around four minutes.
Katatonia has released two compilations. Brave Yester Days (the title being a play on their album Brave Murder Day) is a double-disc release including all cuts from EP's up to Saw You Drown, selected cuts from full-length albums Brave Murder Day and Dance of December Souls, and two tracks from a compilation. The Black Sessions is a limited release that documents later releases and includes a live DVD.
Contents |
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Current members
- Jonas Renkse (aka Lord Seth) – vocals (1991–)
- Anders Nyström (aka Blackheim or Blakkheim) – guitar (1991–)
- Fred Norrman – guitar (1994 –)
- Mattias Norrman – bass guitar (1999 –)
- Daniel Liljekvist – drums (1999 –)
[edit] Former/session members
- Guillaume Le Huche (aka Israphel Wing) – bass guitar (1992–1994)
- Mikael Oretoft – bass guitar (1996–1997)
- Mikael Åkerfeldt – vocals (1996–1997)
- Dan Swanö (aka Day Disyraah) – keyboards, vocals & drums (session)
- Kenneth Eklund – drums (live)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Demos
- Rehearsal (1991)
- Jhva Elohim Meth (1992)
[edit] Singles
- Ghost of the Sun (2003)
- My Twin (2006)
- Deliberation (2006)
- July (2007)
[edit] EPs
- Jhva Elohim Meth... The Revival (1992)
- For Funerals to Come (1995)
- Sounds of Decay (1997)
- Saw You Drown (1998)
- Teargas (2001)
- Tonight's Music (2001)
[edit] Albums
- Dance of December Souls (1993)
- Brave Murder Day (1996)
- Discouraged Ones (1998)
- Tonight's Decision (1999)
- Last Fair Deal Gone Down (2001)
- Viva Emptiness (2003)
- The Great Cold Distance (2006)
[edit] Live Albums
- The Black Sessions (Best of Double disc set with a live DVD) (2005)
- Live Consternation (including live DVD) (2007)
[edit] Compilations
- W.A.R. Compilation Vol. 1 (1994)
- Identity Five (1999) Century Media (features "Deadhouse")
- Brave Yester Days (2004)
- The Black Sessions (2005)
- Split 10" (1996)
[edit] Side note
Norrman and Renkse were both in the doom/death band October Tide while in Katatonia. Rain Without End (Vic Records, 1997), recorded in 1995, would be Renkse's last use of guttural vocals. October Tide would dissolve after the release of Grey Dawn (1999)
Renkse and Nystrom are both members of the band Bloodbath and have been since 1998 (the same year October Tide is credited with splitting up).
