Yesterday (March 17), Swedish grand seigneurs of gloom, Katatonia, announced that they have parted ways with founding guitarist, Anders Nyström.
Singer Jonas Renkse issued the following statement via social media:
“Anders Nyström and I are going our separate ways. A decision not taken lightly, but for everyone to thrive and move forward with their own creative preferences as well as personal schedules this has become the realistic option. Anders and I started the band in 1991 and his impact on the band’s trademark sound is undeniable. As bleak as this sounds, and is, it’s further evidence of life getting in the way of our preferred plans. I wish Anders all the best for the future.”
Today (March 18), Anders Nyström shared the following statement:
“Sad but true.
The time has come for me to confirm that the roads ahead Jonas and I have chosen for both Katatonia and ourselves have grown too wide and far apart, and as a result, our long-term collaboration has drawn to a close.
With him and I being the duo that founded Katatonia almost 35 years ago, and owing to the fact that we managed to take our mission this far, it’s inevitable that our band’s legacy will continue to play a huge role for both of us and always live on, albeit in a different light either captured by our past, future or the many chapters in between.
To each our own, we may all have our own preferences and different levels of appreciation for either the early, mid or later Katatonia eras, but it seems like any willingness to embrace them all, in order to honor our history through live activities, has unfortunately failed to sustain. Needless to say, I still love ALL our albums, but with the early stuff being neglected for so many years, a feeling of having “unfinished business” with a style that goes far back to our roots has just grown stronger and stronger. I can’t help feeling adamant that songs from our early-mid discography deserve to be equally acknowledged and likewise targeted for our live show repertoire, the essential medium where the past should always be alive! Unfortunately, that door has been kept shut and left everything we did pre-millennium in a void.
Avowed, with one of us gone, Katatonia could and should have been mutually laid to rest while exploiting the freedom to continue in any desirable direction under a new name. But with Jonas now regrouping with new members and navigating further in his own direction, I no longer need to wait and see which way the wind is blowing to enter that void and grab hold of what’s been abandoned. After all, Katatonia’s legacy is resting on both ends of the timeline.
Come what may, I’d like to thank Jonas and the rest of my ex-colleagues for the incredible ride we shared through four compelling decades.
Blessed be!” – Anders ‘Blakkheim’ Nyström
Katatonia are getting ready to embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe and the UK. Kicking off on November 11 in Tampere, Finland, the tour will cover 31 major cities in total and culminate in a grand finale in Stockholm, Sweden on December 20. See below for the full list of dates.
Katatonia released their triumphant Napalm Records debut, Sky Void Of Stars, in 2023 to the enthralment of critics and fans alike. The album, which topped several soundchecks, showcases their brilliant, genre-defying fusion of melodic death metal and atmospheric post rock. Following its release, the band jumped on a massive headline tour across Europe and the UK alongside Sólstafir and SOM.
Now, in 2025, it’s time to bring Katatonia’s haunting brilliance and signature vibrant darkness back to stages. With special guests Evergrey and Klogr, this package marks the perfect match to dive into long winter nights! Tickets are available now. For more information, visit the official website here.
Jonas Renkse stated: “Very excited to announce that we will be touring with our friends from the west coast Evergrey and Klogr from Italy. As soon as summer has shattered we will be in preparations to bring the biggest and best yet. See you in the fall!”
Tour dates:
November
11 – Tampere, Finland – Tavara-asema
12 – Helsinki, Finland – House of Culture
14 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
15 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
16 – Hamburg, Germany – Gruenspan
18 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
19 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys
20 – Leipzig, Germany – Täubchenthal
21 – Prague, Czech Republic – Palac Akropolis
22 – Vienna, Austria – Simm City
24 – Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk
25 – Stuttgart, Germany – LKA Longhorn
27 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
28 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex
29 – Lyon, France – La Rayonne
December
1 – Madrid, Spain – BUT
2 – Barcelona, Spain – Salamandra
3 – Toulouse, France – Le Metronum
5 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom
6 – Glasgow, UK – Garage
7 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2
8 – Bristol, UK – SWK
10 – Paris, France – Le Trabendo
11 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal
12 – Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp
13 – Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall
14 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg Max
16 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
18 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
19 – Karlstad, Sweden – Nöjesfabriken
20 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fållan
Festivals 2025
May
3 – Izegem, Belgium – Headbangers Balls Fest
June
22 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
July
5 – Mühlheim, Germany – Castle Rock
6 – Istanbul, Turkey – Headbanger’s Weekend
26 – Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland – Ostrów Rock Festival
30 – Braşov, România – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
August
1 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
22 – Marina Di Altidona, Italy – Wondergate (Parco dei Due Ponti)
(Top photo – Mathias Blom)
The post ANDERS NYSTRÖM Issues Statement On Split With KATATONIA And JONAS RENKSE – “It’s Inevitable That Our Band’s Legacy Will Continue To Play A Huge Role For Both Of Us And Always Live On” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Singer Jonas Renkse issued the following statement via social media:
“Anders Nyström and I are going our separate ways. A decision not taken lightly, but for everyone to thrive and move forward with their own creative preferences as well as personal schedules this has become the realistic option. Anders and I started the band in 1991 and his impact on the band’s trademark sound is undeniable. As bleak as this sounds, and is, it’s further evidence of life getting in the way of our preferred plans. I wish Anders all the best for the future.”
Today (March 18), Anders Nyström shared the following statement:
“Sad but true.
The time has come for me to confirm that the roads ahead Jonas and I have chosen for both Katatonia and ourselves have grown too wide and far apart, and as a result, our long-term collaboration has drawn to a close.
With him and I being the duo that founded Katatonia almost 35 years ago, and owing to the fact that we managed to take our mission this far, it’s inevitable that our band’s legacy will continue to play a huge role for both of us and always live on, albeit in a different light either captured by our past, future or the many chapters in between.
To each our own, we may all have our own preferences and different levels of appreciation for either the early, mid or later Katatonia eras, but it seems like any willingness to embrace them all, in order to honor our history through live activities, has unfortunately failed to sustain. Needless to say, I still love ALL our albums, but with the early stuff being neglected for so many years, a feeling of having “unfinished business” with a style that goes far back to our roots has just grown stronger and stronger. I can’t help feeling adamant that songs from our early-mid discography deserve to be equally acknowledged and likewise targeted for our live show repertoire, the essential medium where the past should always be alive! Unfortunately, that door has been kept shut and left everything we did pre-millennium in a void.
Avowed, with one of us gone, Katatonia could and should have been mutually laid to rest while exploiting the freedom to continue in any desirable direction under a new name. But with Jonas now regrouping with new members and navigating further in his own direction, I no longer need to wait and see which way the wind is blowing to enter that void and grab hold of what’s been abandoned. After all, Katatonia’s legacy is resting on both ends of the timeline.
Come what may, I’d like to thank Jonas and the rest of my ex-colleagues for the incredible ride we shared through four compelling decades.
Blessed be!” – Anders ‘Blakkheim’ Nyström
Katatonia are getting ready to embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe and the UK. Kicking off on November 11 in Tampere, Finland, the tour will cover 31 major cities in total and culminate in a grand finale in Stockholm, Sweden on December 20. See below for the full list of dates.
Katatonia released their triumphant Napalm Records debut, Sky Void Of Stars, in 2023 to the enthralment of critics and fans alike. The album, which topped several soundchecks, showcases their brilliant, genre-defying fusion of melodic death metal and atmospheric post rock. Following its release, the band jumped on a massive headline tour across Europe and the UK alongside Sólstafir and SOM.
Now, in 2025, it’s time to bring Katatonia’s haunting brilliance and signature vibrant darkness back to stages. With special guests Evergrey and Klogr, this package marks the perfect match to dive into long winter nights! Tickets are available now. For more information, visit the official website here.
Jonas Renkse stated: “Very excited to announce that we will be touring with our friends from the west coast Evergrey and Klogr from Italy. As soon as summer has shattered we will be in preparations to bring the biggest and best yet. See you in the fall!”
Tour dates:
November
11 – Tampere, Finland – Tavara-asema
12 – Helsinki, Finland – House of Culture
14 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
15 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
16 – Hamburg, Germany – Gruenspan
18 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
19 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys
20 – Leipzig, Germany – Täubchenthal
21 – Prague, Czech Republic – Palac Akropolis
22 – Vienna, Austria – Simm City
24 – Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk
25 – Stuttgart, Germany – LKA Longhorn
27 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
28 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex
29 – Lyon, France – La Rayonne
December
1 – Madrid, Spain – BUT
2 – Barcelona, Spain – Salamandra
3 – Toulouse, France – Le Metronum
5 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom
6 – Glasgow, UK – Garage
7 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2
8 – Bristol, UK – SWK
10 – Paris, France – Le Trabendo
11 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal
12 – Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp
13 – Cologne, Germany – Live Music Hall
14 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg Max
16 – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
18 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
19 – Karlstad, Sweden – Nöjesfabriken
20 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fållan
Festivals 2025
May
3 – Izegem, Belgium – Headbangers Balls Fest
June
22 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
July
5 – Mühlheim, Germany – Castle Rock
6 – Istanbul, Turkey – Headbanger’s Weekend
26 – Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland – Ostrów Rock Festival
30 – Braşov, România – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
August
1 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air
22 – Marina Di Altidona, Italy – Wondergate (Parco dei Due Ponti)
(Top photo – Mathias Blom)
The post ANDERS NYSTRÖM Issues Statement On Split With KATATONIA And JONAS RENKSE – “It’s Inevitable That Our Band’s Legacy Will Continue To Play A Huge Role For Both Of Us And Always Live On” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
