x2

Yay! New drummer too, hope he has a similar style to their last.

wooHOO!!

From what I gathered from interviews, this album is heading towards a more progressive direction with longer songs, so don't pen your judgments too prematurely based on "Old Heart Falls". Personally I cannot be more excited!

Written by MelancholiaC on 29.04.2016 at 03:12

From what I gathered from interviews, this album is heading towards a more progressive direction with longer songs, so don't pen your judgments too prematurely based on "Old Heart Falls".

I someone passes jugdement after hearing one song, they are simply stupid and their opinions can be safely ignored.

I was totally expecting more of the same, but I was pleasantly surprised by how different this is from their previous works. Gotta give it a few more listens before I make up my mind about rating it.

Their tenth album is definitely their most varied and progressive ever. New drummer is brilliant and gives a new flavour to the music. Also, I don't miss Frank Default's keyboards at all. I'm absolutely in love with this, even though I still have to digest tracks like The Night Subscriber, Passer, and Residual above all, which is the most proggy thing they've ever done.

Those who hated the post-BMD (why are they still following them anyway?) or Viva Emptiness course will hate even more this album. I, for one, think there couldn't be a better way to close the circle.

These guyz are fuckin consistent... great album!!!

I wonder already how their next year's accoustic release of this album will sound. Dehearted & Unflown.

Written by Nihil Aeternum on 20.05.2016 at 08:13

I wonder already how their next year's accoustic release of this album will sound. Dehearted & Unflown.

Haha

Dehearted & Unfallen)))

This album is less accessible than their previous releases. Not that this is a problem per se. But this one just didn't click for me.

It was like it had the first three tracks as hits, being excellent by every aspect, and after that the only one that remained in this level is the voice of Jonas. I will memorize only the first part of the first half in this. Could not even be compared to the previous superb release.

Written by Reaper_Redeemer on 21.05.2016 at 12:27

It was like it had the first three tracks as hits, being excellent by every aspect, and after that the only one that remained in this level is the voice of Jonas.

Exactly, the first three are solid tracks. Other than that they still failed to rid themselves of the generic and unmemorable they're notorious for in my mind.

Written by Risto on 21.05.2016 at 12:50

Written by Reaper_Redeemer on 21.05.2016 at 12:27

It was like it had the first three tracks as hits, being excellent by every aspect, and after that the only one that remained in this level is the voice of Jonas.

Exactly, the first three are solid tracks. Other than that they still failed to rid themselves of the generic and unmemorable they're notorious for in my mind.

Interesting, I think the second half of the album is stronger (Passer is my favorite now), but I like the first half as well. I think this album needs a lot of listening, after the first few play I couldn't remember any melody and it seemed like they were improvising (especially Jonah), but later it becomes clear. So it's not an easy listen but it becomes beautifuI in time. I gave it a 10 because I feel like it will become one of my favorite album from them, but maybe I ranked it too early.

They could do better, but not bad

Some parts of Passer reminds me of Silent Hill soundtrack.

Written by bogdmark on 21.05.2016 at 13:21

Written by Risto on 21.05.2016 at 12:50

Written by Reaper_Redeemer on 21.05.2016 at 12:27

It was like it had the first three tracks as hits, being excellent by every aspect, and after that the only one that remained in this level is the voice of Jonas.

Exactly, the first three are solid tracks. Other than that they still failed to rid themselves of the generic and unmemorable they're notorious for in my mind.

Interesting, I think the second half of the album is stronger (Passer is my favorite now), but I like the first half as well. I think this album needs a lot of listening, after the first few play I couldn't remember any melody and it seemed like they were improvising (especially Jonah), but later it becomes clear. So it's not an easy listen but it becomes beautifuI in time. I gave it a 10 because I feel like it will become one of my favorite album from them, but maybe I ranked it too early.

Just wanted to add that for me at least it is not a matter of time, I listened it more than ten times in plenty of time (for some reason I could have the cd some days before).

This style of Katatonia has been done better on their previous albums... Nothing new or exceptional on this album.

They should stop and question themselves. I really wonder how they release something like this (or previous album).

I want to give an example from Gojira. They are about to publish new materials and we already have two singles. (I can't say that I found them extraordinary) On a few interviews, They mentioned that They want this album to be really solid (actually, their opinion is that the new album is one of the best of history). They have written a lot of songs but They thought that those materials were just not good enough, so all of those things went into garbage can.

SO, If you are planning your fans to listen good music and you are Katatonia, You just can't release this. I'm not saying It's shit. But, It's just "not bad".

Written by Last Cigarette on 22.05.2016 at 23:55

SO, If you are planning your fans to listen good music and you are Katatonia, You just can't release this. I'm not saying It's shit. But, It's just "not bad".

Not many bands give a damn what their fans think.

I haven't finished this album, but I've been pleasantly surprised so far. The badly intonated guitars on "Sanction" really throw me off tho.

Amazing record by Katatonia!

Some of my favorites: "Takeover", "Decima", "Sanction", "Shifts".

Also, "Wide Awake in Quietus" is a great closer!

Written by LordAsterion on 23.05.2016 at 21:06

Amazing record by Katatonia!

Some of my favorites: "Takeover", "Decima", "Sanction", "Shifts".

Also, "Wide Awake in Quietus" is a great closer!

I managed to listen to Vakaren (it's on the edition I bought), the very first Katatonia track sung in Swedish. Haunting, beautiful. Another incredible b-side, it reminds me of songs like Unfurl, Departer, Sold Heart... a perfect closer after Passer.

Can't find Wide Awake In Quietus anywhere yet, I'm curious to hear Greg Mackintosh featuring in a Katatonia song.
Also didn't listen to Night Comes Down, apparently a Judas Priest cover.

Written by God Alone on 24.05.2016 at 02:01

Written by LordAsterion on 23.05.2016 at 21:06

Amazing record by Katatonia!

Some of my favorites: "Takeover", "Decima", "Sanction", "Shifts".

Also, "Wide Awake in Quietus" is a great closer!

I managed to listen to Vakaren (it's on the edition I bought), the very first Katatonia track sung in Swedish. Haunting, beautiful. Another incredible b-side, it reminds me of songs like Unfurl, Departer, Sold Heart... a perfect closer after Passer.

Can't find Wide Awake In Quietus anywhere yet, I'm curious to hear Greg Mackintosh featuring in a Katatonia song.
Also didn't listen to Night Comes Down, apparently a Judas Priest cover.

I have yet to hear Vakaren - also haven't heard when Night Comes Down - hopefully I like those tracks as well!

Anyway, is there a kind Swedish soul that could post a rough translation of Vakaren? I only got one or two lines here and there, but it's mostly confusing for me.

Du är vakaren
Dina tankar går bredvid
Hand i hand med ljuset
Att se klart
Att aldrig vara sen
Jag hör ditt namn i bruset
Kylans port
Dörren utan lås
Dygnets cirkel runt dig
Alarmet
Om det nåansin gåar
Håll dig intill mig

Rikedom
Domen kommer
Det är så dom gör affärer
När man inte har nåt kvar att ge dom
Då kommer dom tillbaks
Ta det som ett löfte genom åren
Det finns ingen med en tanke som är klar

Bevakar ni mig nu
Jag har ett vapen i mitt hem
I det tysta huset
Men lämnar staden, landet
Kommer aldrig mer igen
Min hand kan snudda ljuset sen
Spegeln står vinklad så man ser
Snö och sedlar falla
Jag dansar tyst, bara två steg
Till höger och sen vänster
Man orkar inte mer

Men hade du gått förbi mig i staden där vi var
Innan jag hade åkt
Våra hjärtan hade lyst upp gatan då

It's taking me a few listens to really absorb the album as a whole, but I notice that with each listen, there's something new I hear from it that makes me enjoy it more every time. Some of my favorite songs are "Shifts," "Pale Flag," "Decima," and "The Last Song Before The Fade." So far, I enjoy this more than the last release. Great album!

I can confirm, bonus track Night Comes Down is a Judas Priest cover but it's nothing special - guess they had to add more stuff to the Japanese edition.
Sistere is another Opeth-ish track, liked it a lot.
Same goes for Wide Awake In Quietus, you can clearly hear Greg Mackintosh's touch.
Overall though I definitely prefer my own digipack version, as it ends with only Vakaren.

Written by God Alone on 24.05.2016 at 12:58

Anyway, is there a kind Swedish soul that could post a rough translation of Vakaren? I only got one or two lines here and there, but it's mostly confusing for me.

Du är vakaren
Dina tankar går bredvid
Hand i hand med ljuset
Att se klart
Att aldrig vara sen
Jag hör ditt namn i bruset
Kylans port
Dörren utan lås
Dygnets cirkel runt dig
Alarmet
Om det nåansin gåar
Håll dig intill mig

Rikedom
Domen kommer
Det är så dom gör affärer
När man inte har nåt kvar att ge dom
Då kommer dom tillbaks
Ta det som ett löfte genom åren
Det finns ingen med en tanke som är klar

Bevakar ni mig nu
Jag har ett vapen i mitt hem
I det tysta huset
Men lämnar staden, landet
Kommer aldrig mer igen
Min hand kan snudda ljuset sen
Spegeln står vinklad så man ser
Snö och sedlar falla
Jag dansar tyst, bara två steg
Till höger och sen vänster
Man orkar inte mer

Men hade du gått förbi mig i staden där vi var
Innan jag hade åkt
Våra hjärtan hade lyst upp gatan då

You are the watcher
Your thoughts travel beside (me)
Hand in hand with the light
To see clearly
Never to be late
I hear your name in the static
The gate of cold
The door with no lock
Circle of day and night around you
The alarm
If it ever goes off
Stay close to me

Wealth
The judgment comes
That's how they do business
When you have nothing left to give them
That's when they return
Take it as a promise through the years
Nobody has a clear thought

Are you watching me now
I have a weapon in my home
In the silent house
But leave the city, the country
Never to return
My hand can touch the light then
The mirror is slanted so you can see
Snow and banknotes falling
I dance quietly, just two steps
To the right and to the left
You cannot take it anymore

But had you walked past me in the city where we were
Before I had left
Then our hearts had lit up the street