Katatonia - 'Night Is The New Day'

There are albums that are easy to describe because every song is similar, or maybe has one song that’s a little different than their norm. Not so with Katatonia. The Swedish band is always pushing the envelope. Twists and turns await around every musical corner, with constant changes in tempo, intensity and texture. Each song on their eighth studio CD Night Is The New Day transforms frequently, making for a compelling and interesting listen.

Night Is The New Day gets off to a rousing start with “Forsaker.” Heavy guitars give way to an acoustic section before kicking back in. Mellow and progressive sections ensue, along with more intense parts. “The Longest Year” veers into electronica, with synths and poppy sections alternating with more traditional metal.

“Idle Blood” is a melancholy ballad with a lot of similarities to Opeth. Even though it remains mellow and never “kicks in,” it still has changes in dynamics and textures, albeit on a smaller scale. A couple other highlights are “Nephilim,” which expertly balances pounding riffs and gentle melodies, and “Day & Then The Shade,” one of the most memorable songs on the album.

Night Is The New Day is a true album, with each song filling in a piece of a larger palette. The individual songs are their own are excellent, but taken as a whole take on a whole new dimension of power and cohesion. From the atmosphere to the musicianship to the songwriting to Jonas Renske’s emotional vocals, it’s one of those albums that reveals something new and different with each listen.

(released November 10, 2009 on Peaceville Records)