David E. Gehlke: Perhaps the only real throwaway in the band’s discography, Tonight’s Decision is unfocused, lacking the sterling hooks and sheen of its yesteryear. There’s no real depth to this one, with only “I Am Nothing” and “Right Into the Bliss” ranking as winners. This is where the band pushed the Brave/Discouraged Ones sound to the brink, producing not-so stellar results. Renkse’s vocals are flat and unconvincing as he tries to make the transition from crooner to actual singer. The only true highlight here might be Swano’s guest drumming. Tasteful and memorable, Swano proved his worth to the band in yet another capacity, but it wasn’t enough to bail this one out. Tracks to watch: “I Am Nothing,” “Right Into the Bliss.”
MetalGeorge Pacheco: Often considered one of Katatonia’s “forgotten” albums, Tonight’s Decision remains one of my personal favorites; a record which I turn to with surprising frequency when it comes to those lonely late nights. It was here where Renkse’s voice began to come into its own, and where the band’s tone and new modus operandi began to take shape. It was on Tonight’s Decision where a new blueprint was drawn up; one which would chart a course for Katatonia towards dark, open waters and limitless possibilities. Choice cuts like “Had To (Leave),” “No Good Can Come Of This,” “I Am Nothing” and stunning opener “For My Demons” deserve their proud place on any self-respecting Katatonia fan’s personal playlist. Oh, and let’s not forget the ace Jeff Buckley cover of “Nightmare By The Sea.” I can say with confidence that the era of Katatonia Mk II was truly ushered in here on Tonight’s Decision.Tracks to watch: “For My Demons,” “I Am Nothing,” “Had To (Leave),” “No Good Can Come Of This.”
Renkse: Weird production, but has great songs on it.
Nyström: Probably our most underrated album.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down (2001, Peaceville)
MetalGeorge Pacheco: When this album was first released, it was famously adorned with a sticker which read, “Probably the best Peaceville album…ever!” Were those bold words by the label? Perhaps…but they might also be correct, as Last Fair Deal Gone Down is a stunning piece of work, indeed. Assisted by the fact that it contains two of Katatonia’s finest songs ever—“Chrome” and the brilliant hit single “Teargas”—Last Fair Deal… is a depressive listen, following in time with its grey, almost monochrome color scheme. This album also marked the debut of the band’s latest secret weapon: new drummer Daniel Liljekvist, whose passionate, pounding performance drives each song further into the listener’s brain with an almost Lombardo-like intensity. Though the act of choosing a favorite Katatonia record is somewhat akin to picking a favorite child—in other words, nearly impossible—Last Fair Deal Gone Down remains one of those efforts which has always spoken waves to yours truly. Tracks to watch: “Teargas,” “Chrome,” “Sweet Nurse,” “We Must Bury You.”
David E. Gehlke: Remembering the aforementioned Peaceville sticker (really Hammy?), Last Fair Deal Gone Down sees the band drift further away from metal territory, favoring a shoe-gaze friendly vibe that emanates right off the bat on “Dispossession.” Renkse sounds more confident and the band was bolstered by the acquisition of Liljekvist and bassist Matthias Normann, giving Katatonia its first official lineup in their history. There are some stark songs here, comprising of an album that serves a soundtrack to a certain time and place. For this scribe it did (we’ll spare the details), and there are few, if any misfires. More importantly, back-end songs like “The Future of Speech” and especially, ESPECIALLY “Sweet Nurse” are pure Katatonia glory, rounding out an album that could have peaked with “Teargas” and “I Transpire.” The right way to kick of this decade, Last Fair Deal… ultimately set the stage for bigger things to come…Tracks to watch: “Dispossession,” “Teargas,” “Sweet Nurse.”
Renkse:Our pop album. It’s a great record; I think a lot of people love that album and I do as well, but it’s more of a songwriter kind of album. It’s more easygoing than the other albums.
Nyström: The culmination of our musicianship for the new sound.
Viva Emptiness (2003, Peaceville)
David E. Gehlke: The album of the decade, Viva Emptiness is a reminder of how far strong songwriting can take a band. Not nearly as immediate as Last Fair Deal… or melody-stricken as Brave Murder Day, Viva Emptiness operates in its own reclusive sphere, just straddling the line between metal and post-rock. Renkse’s lyrics are the real treat, with poetic lines spewing from all ends on “Criminals,” “One Year From Now” and “Evidence.” Heck, the man drops the f-bomb at the drop of the hat on numerous occasions and in direct contrast to the various shouters and howlers of our genre, sounds way more convincing coming from his mouth than theirs. The real trick behind Viva is how simple everything is. From the guitars to the arrangements, Katatonia killed everyone softly and gently with a batch of songs that have not been touched for the ‘00’s. Godly. Tracks to watch: “Criminals,” “Wealth,” “Omerta.”
MetalGeorge Pacheco: Somewhat of a shock to the system at first, Viva Emptiness is nonetheless another stellar effort from the group who can seemingly do no wrong. Almost jarring in its angular ‘n aggressive approach, Viva Emptiness is Katatonia at its most bitter and pissed; a record which revels in the beauty of misery and failure. Nystrom’s guitar work is almost percussive in his attack on the album’s barn-burning opener “Ghost Of The Sun,” Renkse’s lyrics are bitter, blunt and brilliant on songs such as “Criminals,” while Liljekvist’s drumming is again a focal point and source of kinetic energy. Of course, the album has more than its fair share of atmosphere, ambience and melody, yet still…Viva Emptiness certainly kept Katatonia fans on their toes. Further proof that this band was anything but stagnant in their collective vision. Tracks to watch: “Ghost Of The Sun,” “Criminals,” “Sleeper.”
Renkse:For me it’s a different album because we were trying out new things. Not my favorite album [laughs] and I think it might have to do with the sound of the album. The sound isn’t as good as it should be.
Nyström: The new level of a contemporary sound.
The Great Cold Distance (2006, Peaceville)
MetalGeorge Pacheco:The Great Cold Distance is what you call “a grower.” Much like Night Is The New Day, this album peels back its brilliance in layers, rather than showing all its cards at once. Speaking for myself, I actually wasn’t entirely convinced the first couple times I spun this record. However, The Great Cold Distance has actually become one of my favorite Katatonia efforts in the years since its original release, with each subsequent listen providing one more reason why I adore this band so much. On this record, Nystrom experiments further with time signatures and phrasing (“Soil’s Song”), melding the sharp-edged viciousness of Viva Emptiness with this echoing, expansive atmosphere. In a day and age where soulless, mindless pablum is passed off as art, The Great Cold Distance defies convention and provides a snapshot into a band whose creativity knows no bounds. Tracks to watch: “Leaders,” “Soil's Song,” “My Twin.”
David E. Gehlke: George is dead-on in his assessment of The Great Cold Distance being a grower. It’s going to take some time and the various quirks of “Deliberation” and “In the White” may not settle in at first listen. When they do, it’s gang-busters, an album that while not as mighty as its predecessor, stands firm in its own right. In fact, this is a bit like how Brave Murder Day and Discouraged Ones are aligned - Viva and this share many common bonds both sonically and in the songwriting area. The songs are just as simple and Renkse’s vocals and lyrics are more abstract than ever, yet that’s how the band wants it to be. They want you at an arm’s length at first, then when the time is nigh to strike, they do. The album that finally broke the band in North America, The Great Cold Distance could easily be Katatonia’s commercial watershed. Tracks to watch: “Deliberation,” “July,” “Increase.”
Renkse:Very important for me. We totally nailed it.
Nyström: Perfected Viva Emptiness.
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