Release date: April 24, 2020
Label: Peaceville Records
Production: Jonas Renkse, Anders Nyström,
Length: 48:33
After the well-received album The Fall of Hearts, which came out in 2016, Sweden’s melancholic rockers Katatonia announced they’d be putting the band on hold for a while. The future of the group looked uncertain. But it didn’t take long for them to get back in action. In 2019 they celebrated 10 years of the album Night Is The New Day, and a year later they came back with a new album, City Burials, which is more than a pleasant surprise for fans.
The band’s popularity took off dramatically with the album The Great Cold Distance in 2006. It wasn’t the first record where they waded further into rock waters, but thanks to the great production and infectious songs, they really stood out from the pack. With every album since, they’ve only confirmed that quality. What’s fascinating is that they’ve also held on to plenty of old fans who swore by the early releases, back when the band was still playing doom/death metal.
City Burials will undoubtedly impress. Katatonia stick to their style, with elements of progressive and alternative rock as well as gothic metal in the mix. The opening track Hearts Set to Divide easily silences the skeptics. It starts out calm, with Jonas Renkse’s vocals backed by keyboards, then the other instruments join in and carry the melancholy to its peak. Right from the start, Katatonia show they’re masters of their craft, no doubt about it.
But so the album doesn’t get predictable, Katatonia have thrown in a few surprises. With Behind The Blood they shift into a higher gear: more distortion, and the track hits harder rhythmically too. Then the electronic-tinged Lacquer offers a breather, built on keyboards, an electronic beat and Renkse’s distinctive vocals. Renkse once again shows a great sense for vocal melody and emotion. And of course there’s a track or two where Katatonia go for simplicity and serve up a radio hit, like the infectious The Winter of Our Passing.
You can notice departures from their trademark sound. There’s a healthy dose of experimenting, but Katatonia don’t overdo it. Just when it seems like they’ve said everything, they surprise you again. Worth singling out is Vanishers, which features the female vocals of Anni Bernhard. That gives the melancholy another shade and hits a real high point.
You can also pick up on progressive rock elements, which make the whole thing more varied again. A good example is the title track, which is rhythmically dynamic in the style of Opeth. With Flicker, Katatonia show they didn’t skimp on the production. With the added electronics and keyboards, the whole thing feels that much more epic. There aren’t any huge surprises through to the very end, but the quality holds up because they keep to their signature style. There’s no feeling that any filler slipped in.
The performance is more than praiseworthy. The standout, of course, is Jonas Renkse’s emotional vocals, and he still has a great sense for melody. The guitars are dynamic, with plenty of distorted parts, while the calmer lines fit the vocals perfectly. Rhythmic variety comes courtesy of drummer Daniel Moilanen, who has now proven himself a fitting drummer for the band for the second time.
City Burials is the kind of album fans will fall for instantly. But going by the sheer quality, it’s safe to say it’ll win the band some new fans too. Once again, Katatonia stay consistent in their style and somehow just can’t disappoint.
9/10
Tracklist:
- Heart Set to Divide
- Behind the Blood
- Lacquer
- Rein
- The Winter of Our Passing
- Vanishers
- City Glaciers
- Flicker
- Lachesis
- Neon Epitaph
- Untrodden
Lineup:
Jonas Renkse – vocals
Anders Nyström – guitar
Roger Öjersson – guitar
Niklas Sandin – bass
Daniel Moilanen – drums
