Review: Katatonia 'Sky Void of Stars (melancholy metal)

Join Pete Pardo for a review of the new release from Swedish melancholy metal masters Katatonia, 'Sky Void of Stars'. #katatonia
💰Donate via Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/pete...
👕Order your SoT merch: www.t8cloth.co...
🖥 Read Simon Bray's review: www.seaoftranq...

[@brianryder5472]

I think Katatonia has been an absolute fire for going on 20 years now. Every album is superb.

[@drumirk213]

Anders Nyström is THE main original Guitarist from the Beginnings of Katatonia! ;-) and yes, already my Album of the Year, think it´s an somehow emotional Connection with them for me

[@Arutha_Con_Doin]

And another outstanding album from the swedes. How about a ranking the albums show on Katatonia?

[@tonyziporlin4240]

I don't think he owns many of their albums

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I have a good chunk of them actually. Maybe only missing 3

[@willburr5929]

@@seaoftranquilityprog The media book edition has an extra track!

[@red_rogue73]

I've been waiting for a "ranking" video on them since I started watching, would dearly love to see one. Among my favorite bands.

[@Fluffyolphert]

Still waiting

[@Whateve909]

What a great album, one of the best of Katatonia ! The riff in Author is killing me.

[@frank.s.castro]

Another strong 2023 release. 'Austerity', 'Birds' and 'Opaline' are the songs that caught my attention from the first listen. Then, I grew fond of 'Author', 'Impermanence' and 'No Beacon' shortly after listening again a couple of times. The artwork is also thought-provoking... I like it. Waiting patiently for your review, Pete.

[@kevindayton9757]

My new FAVORITE Katatonia album :-) ... the more/deeper I listen, the BETTER it gets!

[@Nark212]

Like most of the Katatonia catalogue this album needs a few listens for the music to hit home. When it does ❤️.Love this band

[@yurivogensen5438]

Love this album.

[@normanmorrow4897]

With this album, as with all of the other previous albums from them, the more you listen the more you discover. Multiple listens rewards the listener. Katatonia are truly a great band who really deserve much more coverage. This is another superb album.

[@Jamie.Laszlo]

I love City Burials. I'm not sure what everyone dislikes about it. This one is solid and worth picking up too.

[@steves5331]

Love City Burials too. Great album with perhaps the best guitar solo I've ever heard in any song, ever, in "Untrodden."

[@RWalters81]

1st listen - Disappointed 3rd listen - Ok, this is good Now - LOVE IT.

[@mawrtea]

same 😄

[@jason-budney7624]

I am new to Katatonia, had to hear the album with all the buzz about it. I have spun it a few times now, and it's growing on me with every listen. Solid album that might make my end of year list.

[@futurebreedmachine9302]

If you are new to Katatonia, check out their album The Great Cold Distance (10th Anniversary edition). Then checkout their other albums. Their sound has changed quite a few times throughout their career

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Goes on the "to be heard" SoT list based on your review. First impression of hearing some excerpts is that it sounds find but not catching enough yet to my ears. Once more, these weekly new product episodes are great viewing, Pete, and full of information. Your continued effort with these weekly shows is appreciated.

[@hobojungle1]

Great album. Definitely got some Ghost vibes as well, especially from track 2 ‘Colossal shade’

[@notabillyjoelfan]

"Depressing Ghost" is spot on Pete. I actually don't find the hooks on this new album hooky enough though. I might be in the minority, but I appreciate them when they're at their most catchy. Kinda juxtaposes the melancholy. I also find the production is too "plug-in sounding". There's zero organic noise. I dont hear air. Have you watched their pro-shot concert "Last Fair Day Gone Night"? It is the best Katatonia experience recorded. One of the best concert videos on youtube

[@bgmchrisc]

A wonderful surprise to hear how (relatively) upbeat and catchy this was, since it's the only album so far this year I really like.

[@JoelPrice253]

Excellent record. Favorite of the year so far. That's not saying much (february), but I love it. 5 stars.

[@willburr5929]

It seems to be a given with Katatonia - every album you need to listen to it five or six times and then suddenly it clicks. My favorite dark metal band by far. They may look menacing but they're a bunch of hard-working everyday family type guys.

[@TABL3SIX]

Really like this one. Was advertised in my facebook feed. Pleasently surprised.

[@alanbrown7412]

Hi Pete. Thanks for reviewing this album. I have only heard Birds from the album...which I like a lot. If the rest of the album is the same...I will be very happy. I have been a fan of Katatonia .since the Discouraged Ones album. There have been a couple where I thought it was a bit safe...but considering how many albums they have released they have been on point for most of them. I'm looking forward to adding this album to my collection. Looking forward to your next review/ reaction Pete. Peace from Liverpool UK 👍✌️🤘☮️

[@Pedroism]

Just listen to it going to purchase it thanks Pete for new music and band

[@sanderberkvens6270]

A stunning amazing album! Blows me away.. definitely in my best of ‘23-list for sure!!!

[@damiankarras]

Early candidate for album of the year for me. Best album since Night Is The New Day. Gorgeous album cover.

[@nicholasmendonca2716]

.., 2023 have certainly started out on a bright note (in reference to the music genre that i had choose as my life-long passion) aging, alongside a evolution and the manifestations of it's on-going progressive nature .. .., in regards to new album releases: KATATONIA's "Sky Void of Stars" (released on the 20th January) is in complete brilliance, comprising of stellar compositions and production!.... .., here's a band that possessed a doom|death metal past (that included contributions from OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt) then onto a varied path to a more melodic|gothic|avant garde style of delivery! (amongst my list of favourites, as the many great sounding tracks on their previous year's albums worth of offerings from 1998 to 2016) are 'My Twin', 'Deadhouse', 'Chrome', 'Evidence', 'Displaced' and their rendition of a Judas Priest classic: 'Night Comes Down' .

[@alexperry4691]

Amazing album,though they've never released a bad record, they have been on a roll since The Great Cold Distance!

[@robmlisanti]

Will be on my top 20 list for sure this year!! \m/ Great album!

[@johnnybmdrums]

„City Burials“ grew to be one of my favourite Katatonia albums and I think „Sky Void Of Stars“ doesn‘t reach that level entirely, but it‘s a really solid record nonetheless. Somehow, this band gets me with almost everything they‘re doing.

[@steves5331]

City Burials is a top 3 Katatonia album for me. It had to have time to grow on me and I'm sure this one will too.

[@ronaldeccles5147]

I like it though do think it could do with being a tad heavier - they should listen to Amorphis (and I am sure they will do anyway!) and see the difference between their mid period and the recent stuff - somewhat heavier and enabling greater differentiation between heavier and lighter sounds, which really helps make it a really interesting listening experience. Doing that would be a good thing for Katatonia. 'Birds' is interesting because it does go towards a sort of Paradise Lost sound, and bringing in an element of that (without being PL) helps.

[@MorryB]

Had a listen over the weekend when I saw your video preview. I've seen them live once, many years ago, but never really got into them. However, the new album seems pretty interesting.

[@ScogginsDiscGolf]

Such a solid release! The drumming is killer! Drab Moon had me hitting repeat 100 times!

[@johnsullivan8376]

One of my personal favorite bands of the last 15 years or so. All of their albums require a few listens. I'm finding this one to be a very strong one, though the last several have been top quality.

[@knightcrue71]

Some of the stuff on here reminded me of the Ayreon album he sang on.

[@garyjoyce2160]

Thanks PETE. 👍💯

[@ilves6664]

Hello! One of year 2023 album. Best albums an it release 20.1.2023.Katatonia rules. Joonas Best vocals.. Definitly. I really like Joonas voice. But buy mediabook version there is a bonustrack.

[@TABL3SIX]

Fair rating Pete. I'd agree.

[@JotaTondi]

"melancholy metal" ? really?! I really really like that album !! even the bonus track is a great song. It's not music that I listen regularly but that album is cool to listen to a bunch times.

[@ni_n__ho.oh__n_in]

Best tracks: Austerity, Author, No beacon to illuminate our fall I like the feel of it; somehow they succeed at being catchy and more mainstream without being cringy; there's emphasis on chorus (fine fine vocals and dark lyrics, as always) , less proggy guitar work, like in The Fall of Hearts. Colossal Shade sounds like it was left out of Night is the new day album. That said, I only skip one or two songs on this album. A beautiful LP to go for a walk at night and, actually, gaze at the stars...

[@foobar476]

I kind of doubted that the Welsh band had reformed. Of course, they are Catatonia. Big difference!

[@TheZavlor]

Aaayyyeee!!!

[@robertkennedy9680]

Anders is the guitarist

[@jensnilsson1507]

Katatonia is one of my favorite bands and they are very consistent. Been listening to them since 1996 and love albums from all eras ('city burials' may be my favorite, so guess I am a contrarian there). Really like this new one, except the graphic design Pete mentioned (spot on!) and the production. The album feels over-produced. So compressed and lacking top end in a way that steals some light from the good material on it IMO. Others probably feels the opposite way, but that's partly why we are here I guess :).

[@cuddlesc8271]

City Burials is brilliant

[@01blaval]

They’re Ghost’s darker sibling😎

[@mikedegarmo3203]

I keep hearing about Katatonia over and over. What are their 3 best albums? I may have to finally check them out.

[@ni_n__ho.oh__n_in]

I can tell you what my favorites are. Night is the New Day; The Fall of Hearts; Last Fair Deal Gone Down... Discouraged ones. The most popular is probably The Great Cold Distance

[@RakelaK67]

I think all their albums are a slow grow to really catch me ever since Last Fair Deal.... I like all their albums.... fine line between meloncholy and melody... but they do it well. My only peeve, for all their albums is the vocal volume need to be dialed back a few dB. That's a headphone comment.... on a car stereo it sounds slightly better. They get super praise on Prog Archives and on Reddit and that album actually gets more stars on those sites than the new Riverside,.... which is ludicrous since ID.Entity is a 10/10..... but.... it is a good album and it's getting more and more listens the longer I have it.

[@jonsnow899]

Birds is an awesome song. Author is very good as well. I want to like this album, but it’s a bit bleak. Some of the songs sound Tool-ish, if Tool wrote 5 minute songs.

[@jeffreyrobinson9120]

Never heard one Katatonia album that I "got" right from the first Listen. It always takes a while for their stuff to sink in - which I think is usually a good thing. Albums that jump out at you right away sometimes tend to get boring after a while.

[@The_Director_]

Pete pardo looks like your girlfriend’s dad who is all serious when he’s checking you out in the beginning of the relationship but is chill with you later down the line

[@peterpardo7563]

LOL! Pretty spot on...and that was my Day to a tee when I was younger.

[@zacharyseibert4526]

I've been a fan since the 90's. Good album, just not great.

[@kennycraig6769]

What t shirt are you wearing, Pete?

[@peterpardo7563]

Iron Fist.

[@franciskocher200]

🤔

[@tomp4053]

I also really dislike it when you can barely read the tracklist or lyrics.

[@paulfaulkner2855]

Jonas and Anders are the only two remaining members with Jonas always being the singer and Anders guitar. Yes, they've played other instruments on some albums but live this is always the formula. That being said this is not a very good album, it has a few high points but it's just boring. I've been a fan from day one and always bought everything from them but I don't like this one, they're still great live but they're losing that magic they had before the last 3 albums, last great one was Night is the New Day. Even City Burials is better than this and it was supposed to be an all electronic Jonas solo album, Anders plays very little guitar on it and wrote nothing. Still Behind the Blood is a great song with and my favorite from City Burials, but this gets 2 stars at best.

[@elie6769]

Not a good album