Katatonia

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This article is about the band Katatonia. For the medical disease, see Catatonia.

Katatonia
From left to right: Anders Nyström, Mattias Norrman.
From left to right: Anders Nyström, Mattias Norrman.
Background information
Origin Stockholm, Sweden
Genre(s) Death/Doom (early era)
Doom metal
Goth rock (mid career)
Alternative metal (later)
Years active 1991–1994
1996-present
Label(s) Peaceville, Avantgarde Music, No Fashion Records, Vic Records
Associated acts Bloodbath, Diabolical Masquerade, October Tide
Website www.katatonia.com
Members
Jonas Renkse
Anders Nyström
Fred Norrman
Mattias Norrman
Daniel Liljekvist
Former members
See former members

Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse (formerly Lord Seth) and Anders Nyström (formerly Blakkheim). The early Katatonia albums are noted for the overall melancholy of their sound, often giving them the classification of doom metal or dark metal. Katatonia's more recent albums have progressed to a wider sound, with modern overtones, dropped guitars, symphonic synths and arrangements, alternative sounds and generally heavier riffs.

Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt performed the growling vocals on Brave Murder Day and Sounds of Decay after regular Katatonia singer (and then drummer) Jonas Renkse became unable to scream properly. 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 EPs 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] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • Jonas Renkse (aka Lord Seth) – lead vocals (1991 - present), drums, percussion (1991 - 1999)
  • Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström – guitars (1991 - present)
  • Fred Norrman – guitars (1994 - present)
  • Mattias Norrman – bass (1999 - present)
  • Daniel Liljekvist – drums, percussion (1999 - present)

[edit] Former members

  • Guillaume Le Huche – bass guitar (1992 – 1994)
  • Mikael Oretoft – bass guitar (1996 – 1997)
  • Mikael Åkerfeldt – vocals (1996 – 1997)
  • Dan Swanö– keyboards (1992 - 1993), drums, percussion (1999)
  • Kenneth Eklund – drums, percussion (live, 1996)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Live albums

[edit] EPs

[edit] Demos

[edit] Singles

  • Ghost of the Sun (2003)
  • My Twin (2006)
  • Deliberation (2006)
  • July (2007)

[edit] Compilations

[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).

[edit] External links