Album Review #1
Whilst having a chat with a good friend i remembered i used to really want to be a journalist, i can't quite remember if i was any good at writing or not but im going to give it bash once more.
As it says on the tin im going to review an album. Not just any album though. Katatonia's 2006 album The Great Cold Distance.
These guys are probably one of the most underrated bands in music right now. With a sound that is distinctly all their own they create huge soundscapes of swirling melodies with a side order of melancholy. These fellas aren't happy. At all.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
The record starts out on dark note. Leaders is such a good intro to an album, there really couldn't have been anything else that sets the tone quite like this. It's probably the heaviest song Katatonia have done but they doesn't mean they sacrifice any melody or dynamics. Leaders' verses remind me a little bit of tool circa Lateralus.
Then we move onto the Second single off the album. Deliberation is very solid track , quite laid back. It's arrangement is where it really shines, Compared to the borderline crap early efforts from Katatonia this is worlds apart.
Next up is Soil's Song. This track amazes me. It's so simple but so compelling. almost hypnotic, this is what Katatonia are all about to me. If you don't like this song quite simply you'll probably never like Katatonia!
Now we have My Twin, This song bores me to be honest. It was the first single for the record and you can clearly see why. It's mellow verses and big chorus's sound as if they were created JUST to be a single.
Things are heating up a bit now. Consternation picks up the tempo a bit and injects some much needed darkness. This song holds stock some of the best riffing on the album. If that main riff doesn't move you.....There must be something wrong with you!
Follower is next on the menu and it picks up just where it needs to , Still milking the dark vibe Katatonia bring their pain in the huge chorus. This song really is about dynamics, they totally play off the loud and quiet thing you've heard a million times but somehow make it interesting.
Rusted is up next.What.A.Song! This song is probably one of my all time favorite songs. It's a perfect mix of melody,heaviness and mood. Katatonia nailed it here this track is flawless. What more can I say? Go listen to it.
Its now time for Increase. This song is interesting, its not a standout track per say but it has some really killer riffing going on and very interesting use of dynamics. Jonas Renkse's lyrics are really quite good here
Now its time for the daddy. The big boy. The reason you listened to this album. The fat lady has sung and it isn't Jonas Renkse. July is perfection incarnate. Katatonia have somehow managed to package everything their good at into one 4 minute 31 second masterpiece. I don't even have the words to write how good I think this song is. Just do yourself a favor and listen to it while your not busy with something else.
Well then with that out the way surely the rest of the album will crap eh?
OK you're half right there. The rest of the album isn't as good but thats not to say its not still worthy of a listen.
In The White takes a little while to get going and doesn't really do much for me, who's to say someone else might really enjoy it but I personally find it a bit of a dip after a song like July. With that said I really like the lyrics and vocal performance in this one , Jonas really has come a long way since Discouraged Ones.
The Itch is up next. This is the song which references the album title, It certainly lives up to it. This song sounds so cold and empty. This is definitely some hangover music if I ever heard any.
We're now at the end of the album. Journey Through Pressure is a bit of sleepy tune. Theres not much happening here guitar wise but some very interesting drum work and brilliantly done vocals really save this song. Jonas Renkse sounds on fine form here delivering some of this most compelling lyrics to date.
So how do you feel after you've gone the great cold distance?
Katatonia is;
Jonas Renkse-Vocals
Anders Nyström-Guitars
Fred Norrman-Guitars
Mattias Norrman-Bass
Daniel Liljekvist -Drums
As it says on the tin im going to review an album. Not just any album though. Katatonia's 2006 album The Great Cold Distance.
These guys are probably one of the most underrated bands in music right now. With a sound that is distinctly all their own they create huge soundscapes of swirling melodies with a side order of melancholy. These fellas aren't happy. At all.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
The record starts out on dark note. Leaders is such a good intro to an album, there really couldn't have been anything else that sets the tone quite like this. It's probably the heaviest song Katatonia have done but they doesn't mean they sacrifice any melody or dynamics. Leaders' verses remind me a little bit of tool circa Lateralus.
Then we move onto the Second single off the album. Deliberation is very solid track , quite laid back. It's arrangement is where it really shines, Compared to the borderline crap early efforts from Katatonia this is worlds apart.
Next up is Soil's Song. This track amazes me. It's so simple but so compelling. almost hypnotic, this is what Katatonia are all about to me. If you don't like this song quite simply you'll probably never like Katatonia!
Now we have My Twin, This song bores me to be honest. It was the first single for the record and you can clearly see why. It's mellow verses and big chorus's sound as if they were created JUST to be a single.
Things are heating up a bit now. Consternation picks up the tempo a bit and injects some much needed darkness. This song holds stock some of the best riffing on the album. If that main riff doesn't move you.....There must be something wrong with you!
Follower is next on the menu and it picks up just where it needs to , Still milking the dark vibe Katatonia bring their pain in the huge chorus. This song really is about dynamics, they totally play off the loud and quiet thing you've heard a million times but somehow make it interesting.
Rusted is up next.What.A.Song! This song is probably one of my all time favorite songs. It's a perfect mix of melody,heaviness and mood. Katatonia nailed it here this track is flawless. What more can I say? Go listen to it.
Its now time for Increase. This song is interesting, its not a standout track per say but it has some really killer riffing going on and very interesting use of dynamics. Jonas Renkse's lyrics are really quite good here
Now its time for the daddy. The big boy. The reason you listened to this album. The fat lady has sung and it isn't Jonas Renkse. July is perfection incarnate. Katatonia have somehow managed to package everything their good at into one 4 minute 31 second masterpiece. I don't even have the words to write how good I think this song is. Just do yourself a favor and listen to it while your not busy with something else.
Well then with that out the way surely the rest of the album will crap eh?
OK you're half right there. The rest of the album isn't as good but thats not to say its not still worthy of a listen.
In The White takes a little while to get going and doesn't really do much for me, who's to say someone else might really enjoy it but I personally find it a bit of a dip after a song like July. With that said I really like the lyrics and vocal performance in this one , Jonas really has come a long way since Discouraged Ones.
The Itch is up next. This is the song which references the album title, It certainly lives up to it. This song sounds so cold and empty. This is definitely some hangover music if I ever heard any.
We're now at the end of the album. Journey Through Pressure is a bit of sleepy tune. Theres not much happening here guitar wise but some very interesting drum work and brilliantly done vocals really save this song. Jonas Renkse sounds on fine form here delivering some of this most compelling lyrics to date.
So how do you feel after you've gone the great cold distance?
Katatonia is;
Jonas Renkse-Vocals
Anders Nyström-Guitars
Fred Norrman-Guitars
Mattias Norrman-Bass
Daniel Liljekvist -Drums
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Recent Blog Entries by Moonshield
- Album Review #2 (31st May 2009)
- Album Review #1 (25th May 2009)
