This is an absolutely awesome album, one of their best albums to date for me.

Just picked up Last Fair Deal Gone Down and was pretty disappointed with it (6.5/10). I'm glad this CD met all of my expectations. Very, very good.

Only checked out a couple of tracks, and completely lost desire to check the others. So fucking boring it's criminal.

I've just noticed that whenever Katatonia use a grey colored album cover, everything goes to shit.

How on earth is this the "#1 Album of 2012"? I mean i normally love Katatonia (that includes their modern stuff... sometimes). But this album is just so boring/mediocre

Written by Slayer666 on 29.08.2012 at 00:28
I've just noticed that whenever Katatonia use a grey colored album cover, everything goes to shit.

Urgh, that you even compare them... But then agaibn, it's you. You are zpezial.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 29.08.2012 at 17:32

Written by Slayer666 on 29.08.2012 at 00:28
I've just noticed that whenever Katatonia use a grey colored album cover, everything goes to shit.

Urgh, that you even compare them... But then agaibn, it's you. You are zpezial.

well it does mean he also hates the previous Katatonia album

Still don't get how someone can really like LFDGD and TD and hate Viva. They're all the same approach, just with different levels of songwriting, though all are at least good albums.

I quite like this one. It's certainly nothing special but... nice. No more, no less.

And this is ... well I dont know MDB is much more how this , but Anathema sucks more how this, still nothing special, I dont know why i even listenet it full album, it sucked after 2-3 songs alreday

Written by X-Ray Rod on 29.08.2012 at 17:32


Urgh, that you even compare them... But then agaibn, it's you. You are zpezial.

Yea, yea, Viva Emptiness is their best post Brave album bla bla.

Speaking of which, this is even worse than Viva. That one had some good tracks, at least. This one makes me want to stick a big fat 4 on it, but I won't do it until I've heard it a few more times. I just can't make myself believe Katatonia can screw up this badly.

Written by Slayer666 on 29.08.2012 at 21:11

Written by X-Ray Rod on 29.08.2012 at 17:32


Urgh, that you even compare them... But then agaibn, it's you. You are zpezial.

Yea, yea, Viva Emptiness is their best post Brave album bla bla.

Speaking of which, this is even worse than Viva. That one had some good tracks, at least. This one makes me want to stick a big fat 4 on it, but I won't do it until I've heard it a few more times. I just can't make myself believe Katatonia can screw up this badly.

They didn't. You're either deaf or you don't really like Katatonia.

I am shocked at the comments about this album. This is without a doubt a step above Night practically in every way. The last half of that album was a big meh. This starts strong, teeters in a few places, and then ends wonderfully. The small touches in some of these tracks really outline Katatonia's accomplished song writing skills.

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

I am shocked at the comments about this album. This is without a doubt a step above Night practically in every way. The last half of that album was a big meh. This starts strong, teeters in a few places, and then ends wonderfully. The small touches in some of these tracks really outline Katatonia's accomplished song writing skills.

I'm also quite surprised by all the negativity. I can somewhat understand the disappointment that Katatonia is focusing less on heavy and more on musical genious and intimicy. But for me, this is close to a masterpiece. There's a lot to discover in this album, musically. I think a lot of people define "musically rich but a bit low on heavy" as "derp where ma metal at? Dis suxors! Too slow and bland derp. I want moar SLAYAR" (I joke, for those offended).

Also the sudden hate on other albums baffles me. But fortunately, the majority here is sane. Every single Katatonia album scores above 8 and that is awesome (and much deserved).

Written by Therapy? on 30.08.2012 at 01:42

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

I am shocked at the comments about this album. This is without a doubt a step above Night practically in every way. The last half of that album was a big meh. This starts strong, teeters in a few places, and then ends wonderfully. The small touches in some of these tracks really outline Katatonia's accomplished song writing skills.

I'm also quite surprised by all the negativity. I can somewhat understand the disappointment that Katatonia is focusing less on heavy and more on musical genious and intimicy. But for me, this is close to a masterpiece. There's a lot to discover in this album, musically. I think a lot of people define "musically rich but a bit low on heavy" as "derp where ma metal at? Dis suxors! Too slow and bland derp. I want moar SLAYAR" (I joke, for those offended).

Also the sudden hate on other albums baffles me. But fortunately, the majority here is sane. Every single Katatonia album scores above 8 and that is awesome (and much deserved).

They are one of the most consistent artists over for the past decade.

If you are a big fan of the melancholy gothic rock era, I can not fathom you not falling head over heels for Dead End Kings.

It absolutely creams Night Is the New Day which really loses steam after "Liberation" IMO.

This is coming from a black metal freak too... :-)

Written by Therapy? on 30.08.2012 at 01:42

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

I am shocked at the comments about this album. This is without a doubt a step above Night practically in every way. The last half of that album was a big meh. This starts strong, teeters in a few places, and then ends wonderfully. The small touches in some of these tracks really outline Katatonia's accomplished song writing skills.

I'm also quite surprised by all the negativity. I can somewhat understand the disappointment that Katatonia is focusing less on heavy and more on musical genious and intimicy. But for me, this is close to a masterpiece. There's a lot to discover in this album, musically. I think a lot of people define "musically rich but a bit low on heavy" as "derp where ma metal at? Dis suxors! Too slow and bland derp. I want moar SLAYAR" (I joke, for those offended).

Also the sudden hate on other albums baffles me. But fortunately, the majority here is sane. Every single Katatonia album scores above 8 and that is awesome (and much deserved).

Thank you for expressing my own (same) opinion.

Nice shit \m/

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

They didn't. You're either deaf or you don't really like Katatonia.

Statements that generalize things the way this one does are beyond stupid and not even worth replying to with anything other than "lulz".

Written by Slayer666 on 30.08.2012 at 19:14

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

They didn't. You're either deaf or you don't really like Katatonia.

Statements that generalize things the way this one does are beyond stupid and not even worth replying to with anything other than "lulz".

We have our disagreements but I definitely back you up here since I wouldn't use such an argument against you for not liking Viva Emptiness.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 30.08.2012 at 19:17

We have our disagreements but I definitely back you up here since I wouldn't use such an argument against you for not liking Viva Emptiness.

Dont know how to put this but... NITND worst Katatonia album for me and... Dead End Kings album of the year lol... Dont know why, this album just clicked. Since i dont know the reasons ill just say that these songs are awesome: Lethean, Hypnone, Dead Letters, The Racing Heart, Undo You

Written by Slayer666 on 30.08.2012 at 19:14

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

They didn't. You're either deaf or you don't really like Katatonia.

Statements that generalize things the way this one does are beyond stupid and not even worth replying to with anything other than "lulz".

Like this one...

Quote:

Speaking of which, this is even worse than Viva. That one had some good tracks, at least. This one makes me want to stick a big fat 4 on it, but I won't do it until I've heard it a few more times. I just can't make myself believe Katatonia can screw up this badly.

Screw what up badly?

I'm fine that you don't like Dead End Kings.

But the above comment clearly shows you are not a big fan of the post BMD era.

Written by pisymbol on 31.08.2012 at 19:41

But the above comment clearly shows you are not a big fan of the post BMD era.

But this album has about as much in common with Viva, and the two albums before it, as it does with Brave Murder Day. As far I'm concerned Katatonia started a new era with TGCD, or possibly NITND.

I think chalking the reception up to "it's not heavy enough" is nonsense, because it arguably is heavier than Katatonia's golden age. DO, TD or LFDGD weren't "heavy" albums. They were metal, sure, but they were mostly driven by light, melodic guitar leads. Since then (starting on VE where it works, but here I disagree with Joe - it's not that close to its predecessors) they've exchanged melodies for hitting one chord repeatedly. In many ways that's pretty heavy - you can't fault boring tracks like Soil's Song or Forsaker for not being metal. It's just not very good, and that's the problem.

So yeah, dismissing criticism as something coming from metalheads who're pissed that it isn't heavy or metal enough is way off the mark, because the last few Katatonia albums are clearly heavier than their classic, post-BMD era.

To illustrate my point, just listen to what the guitar is doing in one track, then the other, and see why I don't enjoy modern Katatonia:




But no, I don't think this album is necessarily any worse than TGCD or NitND. I thought those were both garbage (in comparison to their predecessors), too.

But it was on TGCD that they exchanged the hard rock tone for the faux-metallic sound. The only real difference I see with VE and the two prior are the vocals which were considerably improved. All three had the same, straight up riff oriented songwriting approach. I don't see it as a case of being heavier or not. The fuzzy, clinical, distorted sound from TGC distance onwards is also marred by fewer riffs, with extraneous elements taking the foreground. That's how it seems in my mind anyway. They went from simple, organic-sounding rock tunes to convoluted and sterile faux-metallic prog. Perhaps there is a slight degree of chord-focus on Viva but it certainly words on a more basic, more direct level than anything after it.

Perhaps it is a bit more: DO, TD, LFDGD / VE, TGCD / Everything else after. It all being a bit more transitional than I initially gave credit for, only with a serious plummet in songwriting after Viva.

First listen or two I was dissapointed. Given it a few more spins and I actually think its awesome!!

Written by ravendeath on 30.08.2012 at 12:48

Written by Therapy? on 30.08.2012 at 01:42

Written by pisymbol on 29.08.2012 at 23:23

I am shocked at the comments about this album. This is without a doubt a step above Night practically in every way. The last half of that album was a big meh. This starts strong, teeters in a few places, and then ends wonderfully. The small touches in some of these tracks really outline Katatonia's accomplished song writing skills.

I'm also quite surprised by all the negativity. I can somewhat understand the disappointment that Katatonia is focusing less on heavy and more on musical genious and intimicy. But for me, this is close to a masterpiece. There's a lot to discover in this album, musically. I think a lot of people define "musically rich but a bit low on heavy" as "derp where ma metal at? Dis suxors! Too slow and bland derp. I want moar SLAYAR" (I joke, for those offended).

Also the sudden hate on other albums baffles me. But fortunately, the majority here is sane. Every single Katatonia album scores above 8 and that is awesome (and much deserved).

Thank you for expressing my own (same) opinion.

You're very welcome

Written by IronAngel on 31.08.2012 at 20:16

To illustrate my point, just listen to what the guitar is doing in one track, then the other, and see why I don't enjoy modern Katatonia:
[Youtube 1]
[Youtube 2]

But no, I don't think this album is necessarily any worse than TGCD or NitND. I thought those were both garbage (in comparison to their predecessors), too.

To be honest I can't understand why you prefer the first song over the second. The first sounds so pale and boring compared to Dead Letters. But that's just me.

Wow I didn't even know this was out, listening now.

Written by Guest on 31.08.2012 at 20:38

Perhaps it is a bit more: DO, TD, LFDGD / VE, TGCD / Everything else after. It all being a bit more transitional than I initially gave credit for, only with a serious plummet in songwriting after Viva.

Let's agree to disagree. :-)

I think their song writing has massively improved with each and every release except NITND. This is where I thought they faltered a whole lot in the midsection of that album and kinda ends in a whimper for me.

There is one after another soon to be Katatonia classic on this album. Really, their best release since Vivus and probably their best release in the "clean" era of Katatonia.

If you loved Vivus, I just can not fathom someone not digging this.

Hahahaha this album a future classic. Yeah.....