Katatonia - The Fall of Hearts (2016)

So, “The Fall of Hearts” is finally here. Since, the release of the two singles “Old Heart Falls” and “Serein”, I was anticipating this album so much. I’ve found one thing with Katatonia, from “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” they have never been deviated from their formula but this thing either makes the sound deja-vu or may be new-new. Here, I feel a new wave of Katatonia though there is no such uniqueness in this album but still Moilanen and Ojersson brought a good contribution. The key highlight that I have observed is about the guitar tone, the rhythms are not the chuggs nor much vicious but smooth and lead-esque. They never really focus much on the solos/leads but in this album the tone is marvelous. The little harmonies in the background are just toothsome, percussion and acoustic combinations are very fascinating, keyboard and effects work are also appreciable in this album and this is what giving each song a new atmosphere. All applause to Ojersson for the solos as well as to Nystrom for the rhythm part. As always, Renkse maintains a well-balanced vocal combination with all the vocal effects.

Tool, Porcupine Tree and Opeth influence truly have overshadowed in this album and the impact is prominent and reflects. Katatonia mean low spirits and yes, that’s true but to me, this album is the most “Progressive” among the Katatonia’s discography. This is not depressive rock at all. The lyrical themes are somewhat bleak and only “Decima” can be described as gloomy among other songs. The way this band had improvised their classics in “Sanctitude”, I expected there would be something big coming from them and now with this solid addition, it has been proved. 

Review of compilation Kocytean by Katatonia

Katatonia is like a must have band in my playlist for many year. The post-Scandinavian blends with Canterbury inspired sound is the prominent  feature of this act. Well, I usually don't prefer to listen or even check compilation type stuffs until it has some new elements or remastered version but still when it comes to Katatonia, I seriously couldn't stay behind.
So, 'Kocytean' - pretty unusual name or seems like more esoteric or dwelling, derived from Greek mythology called 'the river of wailing' or some underwater thing. The compilation is limited to some 2000 copies and released as 12" vinyl. It contains 6 tracks, three tracks on each side of the record. This is a Record Store Day exclusive release that has been celebrated on April 19th. Starts with the artwork, the name says everything 'Travis Smith' who did artwork for Amorphis etc. While surfing the web I came across that Anders comments on how the idea came up behind the artwork “I had this scenario playing over and over in my head and together with my graphics shrink Travis Smith decided to convey them down into a series of four images where it takes you through struggle, despair, tranquility and hope”. - enough said. A mighty and sacred piece of art, the last image is very much similar to the art of their previous track 'Unfurl' which purely explains the image: 'Releasing the vapor into the lungs, letting the wings unfurl.'

Opens with 'Unfurl' - which appeared in 'July' EP 2007, perfectly combines the electro & post-melo sound together; a more atmospheric doomy style followed by "Sold Heart" was originally released on the EP "The Longest Year." Renkse's harmonized vocals is just amazing, used mostly clean guitar along with reverb in this song. Then we have 'Ashen' which appeared in 'Night Is The New Day' in 2009, a more electro-harmonic based vocal along with the combination of traditional clean and distorted guitar work but the tempo is not the same and variates in between.'Second' is from 'Dead End Kings' released back in 2012, one of my favorite track has a fairly slow tempo which upbrings with rhthm guitar, love the guitar work in this song, twinkling back in the whole song. The second last rack 'Code Against Code' is taken from my favorite album 'The Great Cold Distance' starts of with a delay-clean guitar, there is a drum interlude in the song and it has nearly the same pattern through out the song. The last rack is  'The Act of Darkening' taken from 'Dead End Kings' it has one depressive pattern from the start followed by acoustic strum and beats having some violin in behind; lovely track BTW soothing, calm and moderate. For Katatonia lovers and collectors, it is surely be a must have. :)

Shoegaze that mourns (Review for Agalloch's Ashes Against The Grains)

What can I say, Shoegaze influenced dark metal which people call atmospheric black metal is the most diverse and melancholy genre that I ever heard of. A loyal fan for many years, Its a part of my nature; I am like a nomad in the search of beacon passing through the hazy moor since many moon ago. What this soothing music gives me is an endless calm with loads of misery, at least I can escape from my fate rousing inside with endless tears. Agalloch was the first band along with Alcest (I remember) that introduced me to this doomy melody, before that I usually listened German based folk act Empyrium and others. My affection to this sacred music doesn't allow me yet to write about the album. huhuh!

'Ashes Against The Grain' is the third full-length from the Portland based act. The album was dedicated to Christoph Florian Rehse of Gothenburg scene's Escape The Day who committed suicide in 2005. John Haughm is the front-man, the genius behind all the lyrical content. As I do write lyrical themes inspired from the same phenomenon and circumstances, The lyrics need a big applause first; each track in the album is totally concept based which is very rare among the bands. The guitars are perfectly balanced creating dirge. The acoustic work truly truly suits the pattern. Vocals are like the laments while the hearse passes by. I really appreciate the drum work which is so prominent and doesn't fade apart in the raw riffs.

The album contains eight tracks out of which three are instrumentals. The prologue starts with 'Limbs' (my favourite track), the song should be listened in a narcotic silence so one can better feel the sorrowful tune. 'Falling Snow' is yet another masterpiece that leads you to the bleak winters. 'Fire above, Ice below, 'Not Unlike The Waves' & 'Bloodbirds (Our Fortress Is burning...II)' are something that has a depressive placebo effect that rectifies the person's solitude for a time. Instrumentals are awful too, amazing sort of work.
To me, Its a perfect art that can enrich sorrow but descends the austere.

The review later published on  with the name 'Shoegaze That Mourns' on 5-06-14 & can be found here: Shoegaze That Mourns

Redemption of death metal, Insomnium (Ephemeral EP Review)

Well, I wanted to review this band in particular when I had my hands on "In The Halls Of Awaiting", but I feel like; I might have more to write now after having this EP called "Ephemeral". Insomnium, many say as the pop-version of melo-death, lol! I don't know how?, but this band to me is one of the most creative & innovative in all respect. Although, a well educated personnel too. With smooth riffs, soothing melodies, melancholy harmonies along with the 'traditional' melo-death blend; all combines together to form Insomnium, I remember listening OSDM acts hailing from Finland like Xysma, Demigod, Demilich etc.; they are just bad-ass. The Finnish/Swedish/Norwegian trio produced and still producing finest metal bands. Children Of Bodom, Kalmah, Amorphis, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Mors Principium Est, Norther, Sentenced, Omnium Gatherum, Swallow The Sun etc..yes the list will grow more and more with all these melo-death bands hailing from the same place as the Insomnium belongs too.What makes them more prominent and different from others is the combination of thematic lyrics with tuneful riffs, I don't know how to explain but they really do something really 'melodic'. 

In this release the key change was the replacement of Ville Vanni with Markus Vanhala of Omnium Gatherum on guitars despite any change in the sound you feel in. The EP was released somewhere in September, 2013 and contains four tracks, 'Ephemeral' is the only song. If you have experienced the band before, in the very first second you catch who is rousing the ear drums, with their usual playing style the song starts with their signature tone & rest the vocals lead your way to identify more, it is pretty good track to listen love the guitar work as I always do. Ville Friman knows how to create the real melody out of the lower strings. The EP also comprises of three instrumentals (mostly acoustic) that had recorded previously. 'The Emergence' & 'The Descent' were used in 'One for Sorrow' documentary. A must have band for melo-death wanderers but not for the 'kvlt' style listeners.