Katatonia are a Swedish heavy metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. The band started as a studio-only project for the duo, as an outlet for the band's love of death metal. Increasing popularity led them to add more band members for live performances, though outside of the band's founders, the lineup was a constantly changing, revolving door of musicians throughout the 1990s, notably including Mikael Åkerfeldt of the band Opeth for a period. After two death/doom albums, Dance of December Souls (1993) and Brave Murder Day (1996), problems with Renkse's vocal cords coupled with new musical influences led the band away from the screamed vocals of death metal to a more traditional, melodic form of heavy metal music.
Brave Murder Day is Katatonia's second full-length album, released on 1 August 1996 by Avantgarde Music. The album created a new guitar position with Fredrik Norrman's input and features growled vocals by Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth.
Discouraged Ones is the third full-length album by Katatonia, released on 27 April 1998. This is the only Katatonia album with bassist Micke Oretoft. It is also their last release with Jonas Renkse on drums; on future releases, he would focus on being the band's lead vocalist and contributing additional guitar work. According to Renkse, Discouraged Ones had sold roughly 20,000 copies as of 2001.
Tonight's Decision is the fourth full-length album by Katatonia, released in 1999 by Peaceville Records. It was reissued in 2003 with two bonus tracks.
For Funerals to Come... is a four-song EP released by Katatonia in 1995. It was re-released on vinyl together with Brave Murder Day by Century in 2009. It was re-issued again by Peaceville Records in November 2011.
Anders Nyström, also known as Blakkheim, is a Swedish musician.
Dance of December Souls is the first full-length album by Katatonia. It was released on CD in 1993 by No Fashion Records and LP by Helion Records, released in the US in 1999 by Century Black. In 2004, record label Black Lodge reissued the album with all new artwork, but the band has stated on its website that it does not support this release for personal reasons. In 2007, the album was reissued, this time under Peaceville UK with a blue version of the original cover and all five songs from the Jhva Elohim Meth... The Revival EP appended as bonus tracks. In 2010, Svart Records released a double vinyl version, which also included all songs from the EP.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down is the fifth studio album by Swedish metal band Katatonia, released in 2001 by Peaceville Records. The release was the first of a series of four albums done by the band with a stable line up of Jonas Renkse, Anders Nyström, Fredrik Norrman, Mattias Norrman, and Daniel Liljekvist, after years of lineup and role changes with prior albums.
Viva Emptiness is the sixth's album by Katatonia, released in 2003 by Peaceville Records. On the album's tenth anniversary in 2013, it was re-released, featuring a new mix, mastering and additional keyboard arrangements.
Sounds of Decay is a three-song EP released by Katatonia in 1997. The front cover is a screenshot of a decrepit god, taken from the movie Begotten.
The Great Cold Distance is the seventh full-length album by Swedish metal band Katatonia, released on 13 March 2006. The album was recorded and mixed at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro between May and August 2005.
Tonight's Music is a song by Swedish band Katatonia, released in 2001 as the only single from their fifth studio album Last Fair Deal Gone Down.
"My Twin" is a single by Swedish metal band Katatonia in 2006. It was the first single off the band's seventh studio album The Great Cold Distance. The single's music video was directed by Charlie Granberg. The single charted at no. 9 on the Finnish music charts.
The Black Sessions is the second greatest hits compilation album by Swedish metal band Katatonia, released on February 21, 2005 through Peaceville. The compilation includes hit songs, B-sides and rarities recorded on the band's previous studio albums. A live DVD for the band performing in Krakow, Poland in April 2003 is also included in the compilation.
Brave Yester Days is a two-disc best-of album by Katatonia. It contains the material from Katatonia's older era, mainly consisting of death/doom material, and a few alternative rock songs.
Live Consternation is a live album and video by Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia, released in both CD and DVD format through Peaceville Records on 28 May 2007. The double album features a live performance recorded at Germany's Summer Breeze Open Air festival, on 17 August 2006. The artwork was designed by Travis Smith and is close to the visual concept for The Great Cold Distance.
October Tide is a Swedish death/doom metal band that was created in 1994 by Katatonia vocalist Jonas Renkse and then-Katatonia guitarist Fred Norrman. Norman revived the band after leaving Katatonia in 2009.
The Fall of Hearts is the tenth studio album by Swedish rock band Katatonia. It was released on 20 May 2016. The album, mostly written and produced by founding members Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström, was the first to also feature new members Daniel Moilanen and Roger Öjersson. The album moved in a more progressive rock direction than prior albums, and was generally well received by critics. Two singles were released in promotion of the album, "Old Heart Falls", and "Serein".
Kocytean is an EP by Swedish metal band Katatonia. The album was released on April 19, 2014, as part of the 2014 iteration of Record Store Day. The release consists of a collection of six B-side songs from their prior three albums at the time – The Great Cold Distance (2006), Night is the New Day (2009), and Dead End Kings (2012). While given a limited release, it was still generally praised by critics.
"Serein" is a song by Swedish band Katatonia. It is the second single off of their tenth studio album The Fall of Hearts. The song title alludes to the concept of raining without clouds being visible.
