Katatonia have taken listeners on countless melancholic journeys over their thirty-year career, from the gritty doom debut Dance of December Souls to the dark rock-laden fan favorites The Great Cold Distance and Fall of Hearts. This Swedish band has a long legacy of captivating lovers of the dark. Their thirteenth release, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, begins a new chapter for the band, with two new guitarists entering the foray. With this lineup change comes an album with a fresh spin on a still recognizable sound, available now via Napalm Records.
The album’s theme is given in the title. Every song is based on different nightmares that depict fears and reflections from real life. Opening with “Thrice” depicts both the cause and effect of one’s suffering, a haunting in one’s own mind. “The Liquid Eye” is a leaving song. The heartbreak of choosing to leave a relationship that revolved around the promise (pact) of forever is captured in heart-aching melody & crushing lyrics. “Wind of No Change” blends in a new style, layered/choir-like vocals. It fits eerily well in this song about mortality and religion. A bold cynicism rumbles with chuggy, doomy riffs and within the lyrics.
The first single from the album “Lilac” is a song describing the fear of forgetting. This song is ethereal; the way the melodies trace around the vocals is haunting, like a fading memory. Moving forward with the second single, “Temporal,” evokes a longing to hold onto something despite knowing it’s only temporary. There’s such a feeling of hopeful sadness in this one, created by the drums and soft chords. “Departure Trails” begins with a bluesy guitar melody paired with some synthy organ that grows in emotion as the song flows. This ‘dream’ seems to evoke a feeling of drifting through life, being in survival mode, so to speak. Then, retracing what the reason is to keep going.
“Warden” is set heavily by the drums, giving a feeling of isolation. This ‘dream’ is a fear of not being important or needed by anyone. “The Light Which I Bleed” has such a chilling atmosphere with prominent dark-toned keys/synths layered with the guitars in unison. This ‘dream’ is codependency, bleeding for others. “I’ve come to pay you again the worthless currency of being” is such a hard-hitting lyric.
” Eften Solen” (After the Sun) is the band’s second Swedish song in their lengthy discography. I don’t speak the language, but this electronics/keys heavy track paints a starless twilight that slowly brightens with a moon overhead. The album closes with the chilling “In the Event,” which depicts a common nightmare: apocalypse. The melodies in this one paint a desolate landscape in shades of grey and flickering red like flames. This song ends the album on a crushingly bleak note.
Overall, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State is a beautiful new start for Katatonia. They brought back heavier riffs and powerful guitar solos to pair with the lyrics of every song. They also had an interesting concept to revolve around without taking away the ability to listen to any song independently. This is a dark yet dreamy album that captivates at very first listen. After multiple listens, it validates fears and innermost insecurities conveyed by the subconscious with powerful and emotive melodies and words. Thirty years, and it seems their music is still improving like fine wine.
Katatonia’s thirteenth album was released on June 6th via Napalm Records, with a final preview of their latest single, “Wind of No Change,” on June 4th. Order the album here and watch the latest video below.
