Featured CD - Katatonia : Viva Emptiness

[Duncan Glenday]

Per SoT:

My fellow BW&BK scribe (and boss) Chris Bruni described this album as "a masterpiece for the ages." Whether or not this description sounds hyperbolic even by metal scribe standards, well, that's a decision to be reached by the ages, I suppose. The specifity of this masterpiece (and it is) deserves clear focus. The Swedish doom metal outfit has passed beyond the promise of their debut to crystalize into one of two great bands striving for a seat on metal's highest throne-- the other one, naturally, being Opeth. But more about them soon!

"Ghost of the Sun" sets the quality standard that the rest of the album more than exceeds. The Beatlesque harmonies are just the beginning. And not to profane any purist ears, but if you can stand the thought of emopunks The Ataris, whose videos blanket MTV and annoying popups dominate MP3 sites -- anyway, if you can stand the thought of The Ataris being cited in the same breath as Swedish doom, well, let's just say these guys are on the same page, a page called nostalgia.

Let's be blunt: if you have a heart, Katatonia will break it. Whether it's the mournfully accepting Beatles reference in "Ghost of the Sun" -- "You said hello/I said goodbye," or it's charging chief riff, like a crystal shard through hope's molecular structure, or the way Jonas Renske's voice breaks like fragile glass and coheres around a cool determination; whether it's "the way the light hits the room" in "Criminals," in which love and its denial are coded in the discourse of penalism [check out Foucault's Discipline and Punishfor more on this]; or the coda, "Inside the City of Glass," which as the 13th song at the same time completes the cycle begun on "Ghost" -- there's so many layers, and rich at that, on this album that all I can say further is, buy it and cherish it. Chris is right.

Reviewer: Alex S. Johnson
Score:

http://www.seaoftranquility.org/revi...content&id=668

[battema]

This one isn't my favorite of the latter-day Katatonia albums (that would probably be Night is the New Day) but there are some damned fine tracks on this one.

For those who might be interested, there is a 10-year anniversary rerelease with changed artwork, added textures (synths, etc.) to the mix, a bonus track, and City of Glass now has vocals:

https://www.burningshed.com/store/pe...duct/261/5117/

I personally still prefer the original to the rerelease, but am happy to have both.

[100423]

I'm with you on this album, John. I have both versions too, and prefer the original over the rerelease.
Their last 3 studio albums are better for me, but this one is right behind them.
I should have just typed ditto and just been done with it.

[battema]

I'm with you on this album, John. I have both versions too, and prefer the original over the rerelease.
Their last 3 studio albums are better for me, but this one is right behind them.
I should have just typed ditto and just been done with it.

Opinions of as high a caliber as ours are always worth repeating

[Just Eric]

Ditto.

[100423]

Maybe we should discuss how the cover terrifies us so as to push this album beyond 6 posts.

[battema]

Speaking of "terrifying" packaging...my original edition of V.E. had a hidden bit under the black CD tray with some interesting dialogue...anyone else find that little ode to joy?

[Duncan Glenday]

Maybe we should discuss how the cover terrifies us so as to push this album beyond 6 posts.

I should know (and I'm too lazy to Google it ) - but is that cover art by Travis Smith? Sure looks like it...

[battema]

Yep, sure is. One of his nicer ones, IMHO.

[100423]

Speaking of "terrifying" packaging...my original edition of V.E. had a hidden bit under the black CD tray with some interesting dialogue...anyone else find that little ode to joy?

I had conveniently forgotten about that.

[battema]

The thing I've always dug about Katatonia in their recent releases is that they evolved beyond their early sound without abandoning it entirely (as opposed to Opeth, just to name names). There is still something dark and metallic in their sound but it is light years beyond the early stuff (it doesn't hurt that they got a kickass drummer).

Only gripe is how weak they sound live; I've seen them twice and both times it was pretty underwhelming. Jonas has a great voice but he doesn't project well and seems to struggle under the music, and they lean HEAVILY on backing tracks.

[100423]

The thing I've always dug about Katatonia in their recent releases is that they evolved beyond their early sound without abandoning it entirely (as opposed to Opeth, just to name names). There is still something dark and metallic in their sound but it is light years beyond the early stuff (it doesn't hurt that they got a kickass drummer).

Only gripe is how weak they sound live; I've seen them twice and both times it was pretty underwhelming. Jonas has a great voice but he doesn't project well and seems to struggle under the music, and they lean HEAVILY on backing tracks.

I would definitely agree that live they aren't nearly as good. The first time I saw them was with Opeth on the Heritage tour. They must have had plenty of time to soundcheck because I think that I preferred them to Opeth on that night. I saw them again last year, again on tour with Opeth, and they were really weak that night. Without the proper mix of backing tracks they are lost.

[battema]

When I first saw them, it was a joint tour with Paradise Lost and a couple of other bands. Neither Katatonia nor PL blew me away, but I thought Katatonia was a bit stronger of the two. But then last fall I saw Katatonia with Cult of Luna. On that night, Katatonia followed CoL...and Cult absolutely KILLED it up there. Was incredibly intense, dynamic and powerful...poor Katatonia didn't stand a chance

[100423]

There goes my concept I need to see them on a tour where they are the headliner, and theoretically should have the best sound.

[Animal]

Don't have this one, but I have the next four studio discs. Absolutely love these guys.

Stellar songwriting. Idle Blood on NitND is so beautiful.

[battema]

If you like the last four, I would also chase down this one and the previous one, 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down.' It remains baffling to me how the opening track 'Dissolution' didn't get some decent radio play.

[Animal]

^ On the list. Thanks!

[battema]

Wow...even easier to find a good song when you remember the right freaking title...it is 'Dispossession,' not 'Dissolution.'

And here it is...

[100423]

I went back and listened to Last Fair Deal Gone Down and the writing is pretty strong overall. I think it's interesting how Jonas' voice has improved since then. His tone is better as are his melodies in my opinion.

[battema]

I went back and listened to Last Fair Deal Gone Down and the writing is pretty strong overall. I think it's interesting how Jonas' voice has improved since then. His tone is better as are his melodies in my opinion.

Oh yeah, I'd definitely agree with that. I do happen to love that first track quite a bit though.