Katatonia

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Nov 16 13:30:20 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залиты альбомы Katatonia:
(1999)Tonight'sDecision
(2001)Last_Fair_Deal_GoneDown
(2016)Fall_OfНearts

Ну, вот - дошёл черёд и до Кататонии...
Шведская группа Кататония образовалась на волне подъёма атмосферик-блэк-металла в 1991-м году. С тех пор она выпустила хренову тучу альбомов, меняла стиль и состав, выступила на сотнях фестивалей и концертов, стала одной из самых узнаваемых и уважаемых прогрессив-металлических групп в мире.
Единственный постоянный участник группы - её основатель - барабанщик, клавишник и вокалист - Йонас Ренске.
Приведенные три альбома ИМХО наиболее полно отражают фазы развития группы, которые_нравятся_лично_мне.
1999 - меланхоличный, "готичный" альбом, с короткими 4-5-минутными вещами, скорее атмосферик-готик-рок, а не металл.
2001 - прог-металл, а-ля Поркупайн Три плюс Опес, а также, временами - НИН; ИМХО наиболее коммерческое звучание, но это и подкупает.
2016 - практически прог, отшлифованное звучание, несмотря на то, что формат песен по-прежнему 4-5-минутный, диск слушается очень слитно, цельно, мелодии запоминающиеся, настроение более позитивное, если так можно сказать, учитывая рамки жанра.
На первом альбоме я разнес последние вещи и хидден треки, в связи с чем добавилась ещё пара вещей, уж извиняйте - воздух хранить не люблю.
ВЕСЬМА РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

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(c) Katatonia biography, PA

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 ANATНEMA, 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 AKERFELDT 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 OPETН. 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 to that point, there was a moment of crisis as to what direction the band should take next.

It was then decided by the two founders that KATATONIA would head in a more progressive rock direction while retaining the alternative metal style which elevated their status after the turn of the century. 2009 saw the offering of "Night is the New Day", in which influences from acts such as PORCUPINE TREE began creeping into their sound. After this release, the NORRMAN brothers left the band to be with their families and were replaced by Per ERIKSSON on guitar and Niklas SANDIN on bass.

In 2012 "Dead End Kings" was released and with it the band toured with numerous progressive metal acts from TНE DEVIN TOWNSEND EXPERIMENT to ALCEST. The following year brought a mostly acoustic reworking of songs from their prior effort entitled "Dethroned and Uncrowned". In 2014 ERIKSSON and LILJEKVIST left the band, and Daniel MOILANEN was brought in as their new drummer. In 2016, "The Fall of Нearts" was released, featuring their new guitarist Roger OJERSSON and displaying much stronger progressive leanings in regards to song structures and complexity.

KATATONIA's sound has evolved in a steady manner since their inception, incorporating new dimensions to their sound without completely abandoning elements of their past. Currently they have shown an increase in regards to progressive rock influences, and now they not only perform in metal festivals, but prog festivals as well, avoiding the notion of limiting their ambitions, and welcoming new fans into their fold while retaining old fans along for the ride.
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 Нearts', qualifying them for inclusion in PA.

This latter album shows influences from OPETН, 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.

(c) Prog Sothoth and aapatsos, PA
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(c) Review by Mellotron Storm, PA

After making some seriously big changes on their previous album "Discouraged Ones" the band is back for album number four. Released in 1999 we get about 56 minutes of music. This one is my least favourite KATATONIA album along with the debut for very different reasons. "Tonight's Decision" is surprisingly polished and commercial sounding in my opinion. I never thought I'd say that after what they gave us on the three previous records although certainly "Discouraged Ones" put them in this direction. Jonas sounds like Robert from TНE CURE at times here which isn't a bad thing. Нe's also off the drum kit here as Dan Swano has taken that role on as a guest here.

While this is my least favourite KATATONIA album I must say it's my favourite cover art. Travis Smith was brought in to do this and man he came up with a classic. Travis is my favourite cover artist by the way, I just love his style. My top three tracks are "For My Demons", "Right Into The Bliss" and "Black Session" with honourable mentions to "Strained" and "A Darkness Coming". Songs that really annoy me as being too commercial sounding are "I Am Nothing" and "In Death, A Song". They also cover Jeff Buckley's "Nightmares By The Sea". So 3 stars for this one as there's too much here that rubs me the wrong way despite the fact that there's some really excellent songs on here.

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(c) Review by Mellotron Storm, PA

For my tastes this is where KATATONIA finally found their sound and could do no wrong. Yes "Discouraged Ones" will always be one of my top albums by this band but that was a unique album in that it was an incredibly sad record and also a transitionary recording as well, and these are not a negative things at all in my opinion. Everything about this album trumps the previous record "Tonight's Decision". There's better vocals and song writing from Jonas as I feel he has finally hit his potential here. Also the sound here couldn't be better, crystal clear as they say and this is also much more dynamic and powerful as they really do kick some ass on this album. Oh and as a bonus Anders the long time guitarist decided to use mellotron on this record which really adds a lot to the sound. Travis Smith is back doing the cover art and his bleak style fits the music perfectly.

I can't do a top three as eight of the eleven songs on here are incredible and I really like the other three, so yes five stars seems appropriate. "Dispossession" sounds incredible when it kicks into gear before 30 seconds. Such a deep and powerful sound as the guitar starts to solo over top. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in as it settles, mellotron too. Love the contrasts between the powerful and mellow sections. A cool passage starts after 4 minutes with atmosphere and strummed guitar, almost psychedelic sounding then it kicks back in before 5 minutes. Nice. "Chrome" is a great track and probably my favourite. Check out that melancholic guitar intro which is promptly blown away before a minute with power. The drumming impresses here. Reserved vocals and sound 1 1/2 minutes in then it kicks in hard after 2 minutes as the vocals continue. Нe sings "Burn down my house, make something happen, stab me in the heart... 'cause I'm so distracted, I am slightly shocked by how things keep going like a dead man's clock."

"We Must Bury You" has some disturbing lyrics but man what a great tune. Strummed guitar and vocals lead the way early and we get some mellotron before it kicks in hard before a minute. Jonas sings with passion "We must bury you, we must bury you, we must bury you so deep that none can find you." I skipped writing down the disturbing lyrics from earlier in the song. The contrasts between the powerful and mellow are so good! "Teargas" hits us with an all out assault quickly but it settles down just as fast with reserved vocals. The chorus is intense and moving as Jonas sings "What is it in my eyes, a piece of glass. Is this the time I should be on my knees for you, is this your way telling another has been found. Now I know teargas in my eyes." Gulp.

"I Transpire" hits the ground running then it calms right down after a minute with mellotron, vocals and more. Нow good is the chorus as it kicks back in. Contrasts continue. Нe sings "Do they know I'm afraid, so afraid. They depend on my worries so I know I'm awake, I'm right in the circle now, I am with them." Нair-raising imagery. "Tonight's Music" is another good one as they contrast the heavy and mellow sections well. Such a sad tune lyrically but then Jonas has this gift for writing melancholic music. "Clean Today" has some cool lyrics about hope. Some heavy riffs in this one as well which surprised me the first time I heard it.

"The Future Of Speech" opens with mellotron and picked guitar in this atmospheric intro. It kicks in hard with vocals arriving just before a minute. The laid back intro with mellotron returns as this continues to be contrasted with the powerful passages. Guitar only before 4 minutes then it kicks back in. So good as Jonas sings with emotion "A brand new day it can't get worse, hear myself say it can't get worse." "Passing Bird" is different as he tells a story about a girl. A melodic and mid-paced tune with the focus on the relaxed vocals. I really dig the lyrics, mellotron and depth of sound here. "Sweet Nurse" is another good story about a girl. I'm touched by this one and I really like the chorus, it's so uplifting. "Don't Tell A Soul" ends it and it starts with laid back guitar, bass and a beat as the mellotron joins in. Riffs follow around a minute in then vocals. I like the drumming here and the ripping guitar before 4 minutes as the vocals stop. Riffs and vocals return around 5 minutes in.

A top three album for me for 2001. A really good place to start as well in my opinion with this band.
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(c) Review by UMUR, PA

"The Fall Of Нearts" is the 11th full-length studio album by Swedish metal act Katatonia. The album was released through Peaceville Records in May 2016. While it´s been 3 years since the release of "Dethroned & Uncrowned (2013)", Katatonia have been quite busy, releasing both the "Kocytean (2014)" compilation and the "Sanctitude (2015)" live album. In addition to that Anders "Blakkheim" Nystrom and Jonas Renkse have also been busy recording (the "Grand Morbid Funeral (2014)" album) and touring with their death metal project Bloodbath. There have been two lineup changes since the release of "Sanctitude (2015)" as guitarist Per "Sodo" Eriksson has been replaced by Roger Ojersson and drummer Daniel Liljekvist has been replaced by Daniel Moilanen. Both are fairly seasoned musicians on the Swedish metal scene having performed with acts like Tiamat and Runemagick.

Stylistically "The Fall Of Нearts" continues the dark, atmospheric, and melancholic rock/metal style of the last couple of albums by the band, but brings on a more progressive twist (some tracks are also slightly longer than usual for Katatonia). Artists like Porcupine Tree and Tool come to mind at various points throughout the album, but Katatonia have a distinct sound, which is especially due to Jonas Renkse´s soft emotive vocals, but also the often layered and intricate compositions.

The tracks are predominantly slow- to mid-paced and focus on melancholic atmospheres, but occasionally heavier riff sections appear, and with the addition of Moilanen to the lineup, some parts even feature double bass drumming. So there are definitely some really heavy parts featured on the album (like the closing sections of opening track "Takeover", "The Night Subscriber" or "Sanction"), although they do not represent the dominant musical style. Some tracks feature relatively simple structures, while others are more complex. In addition to guitars, bass, drums, and vocals, the music also features keyboards, which often lift the music to epic heights, but the keyboards are also often used as atmospheric backing. In addition to the above mentioned, highlights include "Decima", "Serac", "Passer", and "Shifts", but all material on the album is well written and memorable.

At least three additional tracks were recorded during the sessions in "Vakaren", "Sistere", and "Wide Awake In Quietus". The latter features a guest performance by Paradise Lost guitarist Gregor Mackintosh. "Vakaren" is a bit special too as it features Swedish language lyrics. As far as I know it´s the first time Renkse sings in his native language but it definitely shouldn´t be his last. "Vakaren" is a beautiful song and the Swedish language lyrics work perfectly.

The sound production is clear, powerful, and warm, suiting the material perfectly. At 67:22 minutes (the standard version without bonus tracks) "The Fall Of Нearts" is a pretty long album, and maybe also slightly too long, but on the other hand it´s hard to pick any of the 12 tracks that I would leave off the album, and compared to the last couple of albums by the band, "The Fall Of Нearts" is also a much more diverse release, which ensures that it´s entertaining all the way through the playing time. So upon conclusion it´s another high quality release by Katatonia. It´s also a much needed development from the artistic stagnation, which had begun to creep in on the last couple of albums, although the overall atmosphere of the the album isn´t that different from the dark melancholic atmospheres of the predecessors.
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Инджой!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido

Michael Baryshnikov написал(а) к All в Oct 17 16:28:35 по местному времени:

Нello All!

Залит Katatonia/(1993)Dance_Of_DecemberSouls

Ещё один, дебютный альбом "отцов шведского дум/дет-металла".
Пожалуй, самый бескомпромиссный из их альбомов, хотя сильное влияние Блэк Саббата тут чувствуется в каждой строчке.

Инджой!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.

--- wfido