Band:	Katatonia
Album:	The Great Cold Distance
Style:	Alternative rock
Release date:	March 13, 2006
A review by:	Jeff

01. Leaders
02. Deliberation
03. Soil's Song
04. My Twin
05. Consternation
06. Follower
07. Rusted
08. Increase
09. July
10. In The White
11. The Itch
12. Journey Through Pressure
13. Displaced [Special edition bonus]
14. Dissolving Bonds [Special edition bonus]
15. Code Against The Code [Special edition bonus]
16. Unfurl [Special edition bonus]

Three years after the great, but surprising, "Viva Emptiness", Katatonia is back with their 7th releases the "The Great Cold Distance". Always with this really particular sound, but with some new sonority too, "The Great Cold Distance" will probably be a real success. Will it be right? Do they really deserve success with this new album? I think so, because no doubt that Katatonia did something nice, one more time; with this new album?

As always, Katatonia uses its really particular rhythmic with its really dark and beautiful atmospheric sound. But don't expect something exceptionally new or innovative for the Swedish band, as always Katatonia proposes its really personal sound, and "The Great Cold Distance" is without any doubt the continuity of the precedent album. On "The Great Cold Distance", the riffs are heavy but you can evidently find those leads that sound like crystal. On the other hand I think that the Bass of Norman is a lot more present and powerful and this is a good point because first, this guy is a great bassist, but also in this really particular cold atmosphere this instrument give some interesting "hot" touches.

If we got "Evidence" or "Teargas" in the past, now you'll have to count on "My Twin", the best song of the album. With a really exceptional catchy chorus, with its great atmosphere I'm sure that it will become a classic. But don't be fooled, we have some others pearls on this CD. "Leaders" where we can find Death vocals is another proof that Katatonia is at its best level, "Soil's Song" is a beautiful piece of music (the guitarist will understand why), the melodies of "Rusted" are just beautiful and "July" is a song in the pure spirit of a "Last Fair Deal Gone Down". There are variations on this new CD, "The Great Cold Distance" isn't linear and if you were a fan of Viva Emptiness, no doubt that you'll love this new album, though I have the feeling that "The Great Cold Distance" is a bit more complex and no so easy of access (especially for someone who don't know yet the music of the band).

The production is fantastic and I don't have to talk about the artworks made by Travis Smith. The sound is exceptional and it's possible to listen to all the little variations here and there. When I said that "The Great Cold Distance" is a complex album, I was evidently talking about the compositions and the arrangements. There are sounds, arpeggio or little melodies (that come from the guitars like from the bass) everywhere. This is perfectly played and the work of Jens Brogen for the recording is really amazing but on the other hand it's so perfect that maybe that the music of Katatonia lost a bit of its charm and innocence, it's not so intimist at the end. But well, the voice of Jonas is so perfect, so touching, that really, this little reproach isn't a big deal at the end.

At the end, I won't say that "The Great Cold Distance" is the best album of the band or not, you'll be the judge. But if you're a fan of the band or if you just love to listen to music full of emotion, don't miss this jewel. Katatonia is one of my favourite band and each time they prove to me that they're great original musicians. "The Great Cold Distance" is a great album, and no doubt that we will hear about it during a long time. What a real pleasure to listen to your music guys, you rock really?