KATATONIA — The Great Cold Distance (review)

KATATONIA — The Great Cold Distance album cover Album · 2006 · Alternative Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
bartosso
The Great Cold Album

Katatonia is like wine, the older, the better. Having said that, I know that their latest release, Night Is the New Day - being of an inferior quality in my opinion - contravene this theory. However, when I listened to this record for the first time, five years ago, it was their newest opus and, undoubtedly, a depressive metal triumph.

That's one of the most musically consistent works in modern doom metal, one of the best produced metal releases of the decade and one of my favourite albums. 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 structures(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 powerful and quite progressive. But most of all his playing somehow matches the concept perfectly... as everything here actually.

Even though the music slips into pretentious vibes at times, I don't really have much to complain about. This is a classic already. Haunting, mature, consistent release, recommended to all fans of well-composed, atmospheric and genuinely emotional metal with modern, progressive edge.
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