20/3/06

KATATONIA / THE GREAT COLD DISTANCE

This Swedish band’s brand of Doom laden Melodic Death Metal makes a welcome return and an excellent follow up to "Viva Emptiness" that came out a couple of years and its set to bring new fans.

Katatonia’s songs are dark, brooding almost soulful, full of multi layered harmonies, complex Progressive like time changes and charged with emotion, killer riffs and very listenable. Like last years Opeth album this takes more than one listen to appreciate it as it is so diverse that not everything is heard the first time and subsequent plays reveal subtleties that were missed first time around, coupe this with memorable tunes and you have a winning formula. Just check out "My Twin" to see what I mean a couple of listens and you will be singing along, the brooding "July" is just as good as is "Leaders" and that’s just what Katatonia are.

Other tracks to listen out for: "Consternation", "In The White" and "Soil’s Song", if you like My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost you will love this little gem, this was album of the week in March ’06 on my Pipeline Radio show and deservedly so, another contender for this years top 20, essential buy.

TOTAL PLAYTING TIME = 52 mins + 12 TRACKS