Following 2009’s inspired and acclaimed night is the new day, Dead End kings sees Katatonia conjure yet another milestone in audial melancholy and angst.
The Katatonia of 2012 is more potent, focused, and creatively impactful than ever before. Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström – alongside guitarist Per Eriksson, bassist Niklas Sandin and drummer Daniel Liljekvist – are at the peak of their powers right now, and their brand new studio album Dead End Kings provides incontrovertible evidence of their unstoppable artistic momentum. A rich, adventurous and endlessly evocative masterwork that exhibits all the Swedish quintet’s established traits while absorbing countless fresh ideas into that monumental sonic brew, this is plainly the strongest and most beguiling album in the Katatonia catalogue to date. It also proves that sadness comes in many shades and that no one is safe from its cold allure. “Dead End Kings represents progression and taking things to the next level,” says Renkse. ”The writing was a little more intense and spontaneous for this one. I think that’s the biggest difference. But it was made with the same mindset as the last few albums. It just had a little more fire involved. We don’t want to repeat ourselves. We are still hungry for new music.”
Katatonia – Dead Letters (lyrics video from Dead End Kings) on Peaceville Records.
Dead End Kings was produced by Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse themselves, and mixed by David Castillo (Opeth / Bloodbath). Additionally, Frank Default joins once more on sampling and atmospherics duties, while there is a very special guest appearance by Norwegian vocalist Silje Wergeland of Dutch legends The Gathering / ex-Octavia Sperati. 5.1 mix by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Devin Townsend) Stunning artwork is supplied by long-time visual collaborator Travis Smith.
Tracklisting:
1. The Parting
2. The One You are Looking for is not Here (with Silje Wergeland)
3. Hypnone
4. The Racing Heart
5. Buildings
6. Leech
7. Ambitions
8. Undo You
9. Lethean
10. First Prayer
11. Dead Letters
SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES BONUS TRACK