Katatonia – Dethroned and Uncrowned

Coming out of Stockholm, Sweden Katatonia have taken a similar career path to their friends in Opeth.  Starting off as a death metal band they are considered forerunners of the genre, but are now at a position in their career where they can be said to have outgrown it and moved away from their metal roots.  This was summed up in last years release Dead End Kings which was more of prog rock album than a metal one and gained a mixed reaction, with some fans harking back to the metal sound they knew and loved and some embracing the brilliance of this new Katatonia.  This year Katatonia went one step further with Dethroned and Uncrowned a crowd funded album that saw them taking the tacks from Dead End Kings and stripping them back even further.

Opening with “The Parting” the first thing I thought was that it sounded like Biffy Clyro at their most stripped back, an observation that I’m sure will piss of a lot of people.  Either way, this is a beautiful piece of work with it’s acoustic sound eventually gaining more frantic and urgent sounding as the song goes on.  The word beautiful can be used time after time when talking about this album, for it truly is that kind of work.  Every song here is pulled back to reveal it’s innards and they all stand up to the test with ease.  It’s easy to lose yourself in the enchantment of the likes of “Hypnone” or “The Racing Heart” which leaps through various peaks and troughs, showing just how expertly crafted these songs are.

This is not a heavy metal album, so if that’s what you are looking for stay far away.  If however, you can look past that and appreciate music for the sake of music then this is own of the most touching fascinating albums released this year.  Whether it be the string heavy folk feel of “Lethean” or the atmospheric gloom of “Ambitions”, one of the few tracks to feature an electric guitar, this is an album that needs to be explored and appreciated.

For Fans Of: Opeth

Choice cuts: “Ambitions”,  “The One You are Looking For is Not Her”.