Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State - Katatonia New Album

4.50

PICKMETER

4.50

HMB

4.03

CRITICS

band:

Katatonia

release date: Jun 06, 2025

label: Napalm Records

type: Full-length

HMB´S REVIEW

Katatonia, the Swedish group that once emerged deeply rooted in dense and shadowy death-doom, has, over the years, carved out space for more subtle atmospheres and progressive nuances. It’s as if they’ve traded the storm for a constant fog, still heavy, but now carrying a melancholic beauty. At the heart of this creative journey is Jonas Renkse, vocalist and main songwriter, whose voice always seems to hover on the edge of emotional collapse. It's also worth noting that this album marks a shift in the guitar section, now helmed by Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.

Diving into Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, the band's fourteenth album, released on June 6 via Napalm Records, I felt the band continued to walk the path they've been refining in recent years. The sound remains wrapped in an emotional haze, layered with melancholy and dark beauty. The record balances heavier moments with introspective passages, as if navigating a dialogue between anguish and contemplation.

The new guitars blend in naturally, causing no rupture. I didn’t feel the band was trying to create something entirely new or revert to their extreme beginnings. Rather, the album seems to solidify the band's current phase, more mature, more comfortable with its own shadow.

The album title, along with its artwork, points to a world of nightmares and distorted reality. This theme is especially vivid in the closing track, 'In the Event Of', which ends the album like the final flicker of a restless dream. Some songs stand out right away, like 'Thrice', 'The Liquid Eye', and 'Wind of No Change'. I also recognized 'Lilac' and 'Temporal', which had been released earlier, along with more meditative and gentle compositions like 'Departure Trails' and 'Warden'.

In the end, Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State sounds like an album built with consistency and emotional depth. For longtime fans, it's another solid piece in Katatonia’s sonic puzzle. And for newcomers, it may serve as a perfect entry point into a universe where weight and melody walk hand in hand, like shadows learning to dance with the light.

Review by Troadie - HMB´s Staff