Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State (Napalm Records) marks Katatonia’s third album without founding guitarist Anders Nyström (editor’s note: his hiatus is now a permanent departure). This leaves Jonas Renske to steer the ship into darker and increasingly progressive waters of melancholy. A formula is in place, and the new guitarists navigate it well. They continue to demonstrate a fearless willingness to bust out a guitar solo with their feet firmly on the monitor, to invoke the era of guitar heroes past. The heaviest element might be Jonas’ lyrics, which retain a sharp bite on this album. The drumming is consistent in playing down solid grooves, allowing the band to back off and create more space for the fragile emotion of Jonas’ croon. The band maintains its persona. 

As with most of Katatonia’s albums, the production value of this album is dialed in perfectly with nuanced layers of guitars. These guitars retain enough grit to maintain the band’s place as a hard rock band. They play within the arrangement enough to maintain their place as a progressive band. Ander’s left the band, claiming they were going in a direction that was not metal enough for him, and there is nothing on this album that would change his mind. Some choruses might be more anthemic, but not heavier. This formula for dynamics is still one that the band has been building off of since Viva Emptiness. They make the chorus hit just right, as Jonas retains a bleak indifference in his vocals, which largely defines who they are as a band now. 

Is this all very calculated? More than likely, as the band’s mystique holds the suspension of disbelief. At times, they jam around in the wandering atmosphere with songs like “The Warden” bringing the brand of melancholic pondering that is balanced with the rock bombast that is their stock and trade. “The Light Which I Bleed’ is one of the album’s strongest songs, as it finds the band not just going through familiar motions and checking off the expected sonic boxes 

When things break down to a piano ballad, it’s not just checking off the expected boxes of what you expect from a Katatonia album. How well it works depends upon just how atmospheric you want these guys to be. Fans should have high expectations for this band, and while this continues down a similarly gloomy path that they have been going down post Night is the New Day, they are still delivering forward-thinking songwriting, which at times needs a few listens to grow on you. The songs hit harder emotionally than they are metal, which is something that continues to work for the band. If you still associate this band with their Peaceville Records days, then you are going to be too far removed from who they are now to reconcile the difference. Endearing fans of the band will find this album delivering what they have come to want. 

Buy the album here:
https://katatonia.com/

9 / 10
WIL CIFER
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