Posted on the band's Facebook.

Katatonia, the Swedish purveyors of dark rock/metal, have announced that their ninth studio album, due to be released on Peaceville Records on August 27th (EU) and August 28th (US), will be titled Dead End Kings. A continuation of 2009's inspired and acclaimed Night Is The New Day, as well as a leap forward into the unknown, Dead End Kings sees the quintet conjure yet another milestone in audial melancholy and angst.

Amongst their most poignant and ambitious material to date, Dead End Kings was recorded at Ghost Ward Studios and The City Of Glass. The album was produced by founding duo Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse themselves, and mixed by David Castillo, known for his prior work with the band, as well as Opeth and Bloodbath.

Dead End Kings sees the recording debut of guitarist Per Eriksson for Katatonia, as well as recent bassist Niklas Sandin. Additionally, Katatonia is joined once again by Frank Default and his invaluable expertise on sampling and atmospherics, plus a special guest appearance by Norwegian vocalist Silje Wergeland of Dutch legends The Gathering/ex-Octavia Sperati.

About the album title, vocalist Jonas comments: "Dead End Kings is about the corridors of our mind from where there is no return. Be a king or queen in your own right in these hallways, even at the dead end. Carry your burden with pride. That's what we are doing, twenty years and counting. Kings, because we believe in what we are creating, in our own disturbing faith."

Guitarist Anders sums up: "This album has doors revolving into many different genres of music but remain disguised within the Katatonia trademark. We have walked the fine line between attempting not to repeat ourselves but also not to distance us away from what people know and love. We're now ready to hand over the evidence and whatever the direction this has taken is now for you to decide. We're confident the creativity and passion on this album is something that will be echoing even beyond the dead end."



Dead End Kings tracklist (not in final running order):

The Parting
Hypnone
Undo You
The Racing Heart
Buildings
Leech
The One You Are Looking For Is Not Here [feat. Silje Wergeland]
First Prayer
Ambitions
Lethean
Dead Letters

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In other Katatonia news, guitarist Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström won't be playing with the band in Russia. The following statement was released about it: "We are currently on our way to Russia, but we have some bad news. Unfortunately Anders is very sick and unable to travel with us, so we send our regards and wish him a speedy recovery. The show must go on and we didn't want our fans to miss out so we have decided to carry on and play the concerts without him. We look forward to seeing you all over the next couple of days!"

Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Katatonia