UMUR "Saw You Drown" is an EP release by Swedish doom/goth metal act Katatonia. The EP was released through Avantgarde Music in January 1998 and preceeds the release of the full-length studio album "Discouraged Ones" which was released in April 1998. The two releases share the two tracks "Saw You Drown" and "Nerve". In addition to those two mentioned tracks, the "Saw You Drown" EP features two tracks in "Quiet World" and "Scarlet Heavens", which at the time of it´s release were exclusive to this EP. The two tracks have since become available as bonus tracks on re-issues of "Discouraged Ones" and on the "Brave Yester Days (2004)" compilation. The "Saw You Drown" EP is today a rare find as the EP upon release was limited to 1500 hand-numbered copies on CD and 1000 hand-numbered copies on vinyl. It hasn´t been re-released in this form since.

The years 1997 - 1999 was a transition period for Katatonia, who on their first two albums, "Dance of December Souls (1993)" and Brave "Murder Day (1996)", had played doom/death metal with predominantly growling vocals. This EP exclusively features clean vocals and was probably quite a surprise for most fans of the band. The music has taken on a depressive goth rock sound too, while still retaining a heavy doomy element. "Scarlet Heavens" is a full on goth rock track though, comparable to the style of acts like The Sisters of Mercy and Fields of the Nephilim. To my surprise "Scarlet Heavens" was recorded as early as 1994. The remaining three tracks were recorded in 1997 and share a more similar sound. Both "Saw You Drown" and "Nerve" are quality tracks but as usual with Katatonia, their B-sides or EP only tracks are more than worth a listen too and "Quiet World" is no exception. There´s a slight progressive twist to the track which also features a kinda dark and mysterious Twin Peaks atmosphere. Jonas Renkse´s vocals are subdued (except on "Scarlet Heavens" where he takes on an Andrew Eldritch goth rock croon), sad and delivered with the right amount of emotionless shoegazing to fit the depressive mood of the music. He would develop his vocal techniques and skills a lot on subsequent album releases, and at times his performance here appears a bit imature, but still greatly enjoyable to my ears.

In it´s original form "Saw You Drown" is definitely a worthy purchase, but if you already have the re-issue of "Discouraged Ones", which features all four tracks from the EP, "Saw You Drown" does become more of a collector´s item. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is warranted.

bonnek Katatonia worked heavily on a new sound for this album. Songwriting and style doesn't differ all that much from the doomy indie rock of "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" but they made it sound much heavier, with a wall of sound consisting of more upfront low-tuned rhythm guitars. It makes the album sound a lot more metal then "Last Fair Deal". Add the very consistent songwriting and you have an album that should please the doomy and goth metal crowds.

Katatonia tends to follow a quite rigid songwriting template, and almost every song here has the same quiet-loud dynamics with anthemic choruses. Together with the very thick and dense sound it makes the album drag a bit halfway in, certainly on the less memorable tracks such as "Walking By A Wire" or "Complicity". But even at those weaker moments, you can count on the band to come up with some interesting effects, sounds and arrangements. This album probably has the most creative and original guitar work of all Katatonia albums. Hats of to Blakkheim! Also, apart from those two tracks, all songwriting is quite perfect and brought with an energetic performance.

It goes without saying that you need to like dark and downcast music in order to like Katatonia, but if you do, then this should be a real winner. Recommended for all fans of heavy indie rock, depressed metal, gothic rock, doomy Prog, and all enthusiasts of gloomy songs that excel in originality and catchiness.

bonnek After falling in love with Katatonia when they released "Last Fair Deal Gone Down", I've been looking out for every new Katatonia release with the highest levels of urgency and expectation. And they certainly didn't let me down with this release, which I regard as their magnum opus.

The band's line-up had remained unchanged for more then 5 years and I believe that such can clearly be heard here. They sound like a well-oiled machine, tight and unrelenting, more metallic then they did on the previous releases and without any dip in the songwriting. The songwriting remained largely in the indie/goth area, with their typical variation of subtle melodic verses and huge almost anthemic choruses, not dissimilar to the template that was laid down by Paradise Lost on their album 'One Second'. But Katatonia tops them here, making their songs more musical and adventurous, with tasty math/progressive riffing and those typical odd time signatures and poly-rhythms. Also Blakkheim's continued experimental approach towards guitar sounds and effects make Katatonia into a true progressive act.

Being both a fan and a skeptic of progressive rock/metal I can only applaud that they never indulge into unnecessary song lengths, pointless solos and the cheesiness that often spoil the Prog experience for me. In a similar way, they also avoid the pitfalls of much Goth acts, by staying far away from the pose, pathos and formulaic approach that makes so much 2nd and 3rd tier Goth acts a self-parody and total turn-off for me.

Katatonia found a way to marry the strengths of progressive metal with those of indie and Goth. With that mix it's no wonder this band hits me right in the heart, especially on this album. One for my all-time metal top 10.

bartosso Masterpiece of modern depressive metal

Katatonia is like wine, the older, the better. Having said that I appreciate the fact that their latest release, NIGHT IS THE NEW DAY contravene this theory. But when I listened to this record for the first time, five years ago, it was their newest child and, undoubtedly, a depressive metal triumph.

I would gladly rate this record with full 5 stars. That's one of the most musically consistent works in depressive rock, one of the best produced metal releases of the decade and one of my favourite albums. The very core of this release are dark and depressive feelings which find an outlet in every single composition in the album. Both massive metal riffs and haunting melodies are dripping with genuine emotions, so beautifully expressed by Jonas Renkse with his unique, gentle voice. The band manages, with equally good effect, to create both beautiful, haunting melodies(e.g."July", "In The White") and extremely dark, massive and discordant sounds with progressive approach(e.g."Leaders", "The Itch"). I'm also full of praise for the drummer who really deserves a separate commendation. I love the way he plays in this album. This guy manages to create fantastic drum patterns which, while being relatively understated, are really powerful and quite progressive. But most of all his playing somehow matches the concept perfectly... as everything here actually.

However, among fantastic, sophisticated melodies there are also some minor dissonances which take points away. The first objection I have on that matter is "My Twin". While verse is fantastic and emotional, the chorus is somewhat trite. For the same reason I don't like intro and chorus of "Deliberation" and intro of "Consternation". It's just... sad that among such great melodies there are a few run-of-the-mill ones.

Apart from that I actually don't have anything else to complain about. This is classic already. Haunting, mature, consistent release, recommended to all fans of well-composed, atmospheric and genuinely emotional metal.

TRACKS BY RATINGS: 10/10: Soil's Song; July; In the White 9/10: Leaders; Follower; Rusted; Increase; The Itch; Journey Through Pressure 8/10: My Twin; Consternation 7/10: Deliberation

Prog Geo One of the best albums of 2009!Also one of my favorite albums.This is the most progressive album of Katatonia.Mikael Akerfeldt enjoyed it very much.Finally his comments weren't excessive.The album has post rock influences(and not only),fantastic compositions,wonderful vocals by Jonas Renkse and nice lyrics.The lyrical themes are misery,sadness,despair and realisation for the end of the world.Also from the title you can see that Katatonia see the blackier future to come.

The artwork is fantastic!The female angel statue and the grey-black background describes perfectly the atmosphere of the album.

My favorite tracks are:The longest year(the good single),Onward into battle,Liberation,Nephilim(death),New night,Inheritance(wonderful classical introduction),Day and then the shade(Opeth time) and the bonus track Ashen(fantastic track,I believe that should be in the tracklist)

An album for all metallers and all music lovers.A must-have album.I'm sure that you'll enjoy it if you heard it.

My grade:9/10