Katatonia - Night Is The New Day

Genre: Depressive Rock
Year: 2009
Country: Sweden
Tracklist:

1.	Forsaker	04:05
2.	The Longest Year	04:39
3.	Idle Blood	04:23
4.	Onward Into Battle	03:52
5.	Liberation	04:18
6.	The Promise of Deceit	04:18
7.	Nephilim	04:27
8.	New Night	04:28
9.	Inheritance	04:30
10.	Day & Then the Shade	04:27
11.	Departer	05:27
Total playing time		48:38

Download (freakshare)

In the new Millennium these Swedes released a peerless album every three years. After slightly riff oriented albums as ‘Viva Emptiness’ and ‘The Great Cold Distance’, ‘Night Is The New Day’ turned out way much calmer, soaring and - if we may use the word in this respect - more symphonic. There is a simple explanation for that. On previous albums, scanty keyboard parts were played by guitarist Anders Nyström; this time they worked with a keyboard-wizard. Frank Default has put a proper mark on this album, however without estranging the Katatonia sound ever. The band already knew the man after cooperation for ‘Unfurl’ (one can find this track on the EP ‘July’) and they needed a slight evolution.

That’s the way we like it: a band that does not stagnate, but always looks for new boundaries without renouncing its own identity. I did play the album lots of times before starting to write down my impressions, since these “nearly-chansons” demanded a bit of get used to after former, heavier albums; certainly after watching the band mainly in a live situation recently (they are a bit heavier anyway then). In the end I came to the conclusion that this is a masterpiece with a number of classic Katatonia gems. Maybe I just should stick to what the band says: there are prog moments, doom, folk and classic melodic songs. But I like to go a bit deeper into the matter.

‘Forsaker’ is the start of this melancholic, dark trip through heart and soul. It is linked up with the previous album ‘The Great Cold Distance’, lyric-wise as well as music-wise. Them greasy guitars join heavily in between the contemplative vocal lines of Jonas and fluttering guitar sounds are magnificent. ‘The Longest Year’ - pitch black as night - bridges again earlier work by its dreamy timbre. From ‘Idle Blood’ on, evolution is noticeable. Acoustic guitars: did we hear this before with Katatonia? Strings, mellotron and symphonic arrangements. New! And vocals… I know that Jonas and Mike Akerfeldt have been friends for a long time, but are you sure that Mike wasn’t behind the microphone for just one song? Anyway, this song is very Opeth-like. In contrast with what the title might surmise, ‘Onward Into Battle’ appears to be a very placid song in which vibrating guitars reign. Heavy riffs and the “old” style with great guitar leads can be found in ‘Liberation’, a song that could have been on earlier albums easily. Synths are used in a modern way in ‘The Promise Of Deceit’. My speakers almost blow up by these ponderous sounds. Loads of keyboards, semi-spoken and a kind of distance it creates. ‘Nephilim’ has parts that are very progressive, vocals are conjuring and thoughtful, though an eruption of bushy guitars isn’t missing. Personal and fragile is ‘New Night’, this song instantly speaks to the heart. For one or another reason ‘Inheritance’ reminds me of current Anathema. Maybe due to strings, vocals with echo and bits of modern sounds. ‘Day And Then The Shade’ is the single. A videoclip will be shot for this one and it is a catchy song (mark the perfect contrast between riffs and mellotron). It is in the vein of the three singles of the previous album. The last song has a surprise. Sometimes we find Jonas doing guest vocals on other bands’ albums (see interview for more details). Well, ‘Departer’ is sung by Krister Linder (Enter The Hunt). Initially there seems to be not a great difference in timbre and style with Jonas, but I soon found out to be mistaken. Soon you notice that it is someone else behind the microphone. The song has a slightly folkloristic, but also symphonic flavour. Think of Pink Floyd in troubadour style. Isn’t this a very fresh, surprising Katatonia album? But once more a stunner in unique Katatonia tradition! I finish with one more remark: with the former album I wrote that it is exceptional that they can invoke such a melancholic feel without using keyboards or piano. Well, that has changed by now.