MUSIC

Formed in 1991 by Jonas Renkse & Anders Nystrom & transitioning from early pioneers of the rising black/death/doom movement to powerhouses of the progressive metallic rock genre, the Swedish connoisseurs of melancholy returned in 2020 with their stellar opus, ‘City Burials’ – the band’s eleventh studio album & first since 2016’s haunting ‘The Fall Of Hearts’.

With the winds of a new direction steering the band on their latest journey, ‘City Burials’ stood as a triumph of deep & enigmatic progressive rock – the fruits of a rejuvenating & profound chapter in the band’s legacy & a catalyst for its creators. Compiled into one of their most important modern works & statements to date, the finely-honed instrumentation provides a multi-textured backdrop with the voice of Jonas Renkse guiding us through these latest trials of loss & ruin.

The chemistry between Jonas, Anders & their band mates – bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen & most recent recruit, guitarist Roger Ojersson – never sounded more potent, with ‘City Burials’ being the first album Katatonia made since Ojersson became a full-time member.

Inspired by an injection of fresh blood into Katatonia’s creative brew, ‘City Burials’ helped Katatonia reclaim part of their heavy metal roots, via several moments of exuberant, old-school classicism, deftly woven into these new songs’ kaleidoscopic fabric, resulting in an album that propelled the band ever further into the spotlight.

‘City Burials’ was produced by Nystrom/Renkse & recorded at Soundtrade Studios, Tri-Lamb Studios & The City Of Glass, throughout October & November 2019, with engineering work handled by Karl Daniel Liden. The album also featured a guest appearance by Anni Bernhard, the voice behind Stockholm based act ‘Full Of Keys’. Artwork appeared courtesy of Lasse Hoile, the image itself representing the ongoing era of the Dead End King.

This edition of ‘City Burials’ is presented on single black vinyl, featuring a new half-speed vinyl master for optimal sound quality.