Share the post "Album review: KATATONIA – Sky Void Of Stars"
Napalm Records [Release date: 20.01.23]
Ever since Swedish behemoths Katatonia de-coupled themselves from the doom-metal train to oblivion with the ‘Night Is The New Day’ album way back in 2009, they have been the flag-bearers of a genre best described as prog/metal melancholia – gathering a deserved reputation, album upon album, amongst both metal-heads and progressive rock devotees, as one of the finest bands on the planet.
‘Sky Void Of Stars’ is their fifth studio album since NITND and I have to admit that my shoulders slumped and I thought “WTF” as opening track ‘Austerity’ roared out of the speakers and kicked my arse into next week – my God, they’ve deserted their millions of new-found acolytes and reverted to type with thundering drums and thrash guitar…Noooooo…
But wait, despite the headlong charge of the opening bars, this is, thankfully, the Katatonia we’ve been captivated by for over a decade and testament to a band capable of change without betraying their core values.
‘Sky Void Of Stars’ is heavier generally than more recent outings but it’s almost as if the music and its subject matter demand this.
The desolate and mournful tropes are still present and correct but are given more significance due to the surrounding power.
This is best illustrated on ‘Colossal Shade’ whose powerful riffing is soothed by Jonas Renkse’s always-in-control vocal and ‘Author’ where the immense power is juxtaposed with an almost placid verse.
The melancholic ‘Opaline’ has an anthemic chorus – heavy, but never losing sight of the melody, as is the case with ‘Birds’, ‘Impermanence’ and ‘No Beacon To Illuminate Our Fall’ – the latter being a real standout and an exempli gratia of the whole album’s ethos.
Another standout is ‘Drab Moon’, an intensely sorrowful track sounding very similar to tracks on ‘The Fall Of Hearts’ – one of Katatonia’s finest albums.
In summary, this is the sound of a great band getting even better – re-inventing themselves yet instantly recognizable.
Renkse’s vocals have never sounded better and Anders Nystrom’s guitaring is just sensational - backed up with equally brilliant contributions from Roger Ojersson (guitar), Niklas Sandin (bass) and the bowel-loosening drumming of Daniel Moilanen.
The album is a heavy-hearted affair from beginning to end and yet uncannily life-affirming – due, in no small part, to the brilliance of the musicianship but, primarily, to the inherent quality of the music itself.
Despondency never sounded this good – ever, and yet I would defy any metal / progressive rock fan to finish listening to it with anything other than a smile on their face and a knowing nod to the brilliance within.
Exceptional. *****
Review by Alan Jones
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: KATATONIA – Sky Void Of Stars"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
