Swedish grandeurs of melancholic heaviness, Katatonia, return with Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, set for release on June 6 via Napalm Records.
Once again, the Stockholm-based unit masterfully navigates the tightrope act between nocturnal darkness and Scandinavian despair while subtly weaving a sense of hope into the listener’s heart. Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State marks the next step in Katatonia’s evolution, building upon the foundation of their previous album, Sky Void of Stars (2023) and also is an introduction to their two new guitarists. Katatonia in 2025 is composed of vocalist and founding member Jonas Renkse, bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen, and guitarists Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.
With the album’s lead single “Lilac” revealed today, Katatonia offer a first glimpse of what fans can expect from the new record. The track showcases Jonas Renkse’s unmistakable vocals intertwining with hypnotic rhythms, heavy riffs, and progressive elements. Accompanied by an atmospheric official music video, “Lilac” speaks straight to the heart, proving Katatonia’s matchless ability to draw listeners into a whirlwind of stirring emotions.
Jonas Renkse adds: “We are proud and excited to announce our new album, Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, coming out via Napalm Records on June 6. As always, these songs are the stories that thrive in the corner of the eye, obscured by the light but waiting to come alive in the dusk of our morbid existence. Please enjoy the first scent – ‘Lilac’. ”
Watch the official music video for “Lilac” below.
On Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like “Thrice” and “Warden” pulse with dynamic energy, a near-ceremonial piece, “Wind of No Change”, merges subtle electronic textures with Katatonia’s enigmatic soundscapes, while “Temporal” balances fragility and strength – its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The breathtaking “Efter Solen” (Engl. After the Sun), featuring Swedish lyrics, evokes echoes of Jonas Eika’s 2018 short story collection, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.
Even after more than 30 years, Katatonia continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State stands as a testament to their enduring brilliance. The album was produced by Jonas Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.
Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State will be available in the following formats:
– 1LP Liquid Vinyl Red/Black, incl. 12inch Booklet 12p – strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
Wooden Box, incl. Mediabook + Bonus Bluray Atmos Mix, exclusive Art Print, Cloth Bag – strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– Die Hard 1LP Inkspot Red/Black, incl. 12inch Booklet 12p, Artprint 12inch – strictly limited to 400 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Gatefold Solid GOLD, incl. Lyric Sheet – strictly limited to 400 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Gatefold Marbled Translucent Orange/Black, incl. Lyric Sheet (Band Shop only)
– 1LP Gatefold Black, incl. Lyric Sheet
– 1CD Mediabook, incl. Bonus Track & Remix + extended 24p Booklet
– 1CD Digisleeve, incl. 16p Booklet
– Digital Album
Pre-order here.
Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State tracklisting:
“Thrice”
“The Liquid Eye”
“Wind Of No Change”
“Lilac”
“Temporal”
“Departure Trails”
“Warden”
“The Light Which I Bleed”
“Efter Solen”
“In The Event Of”
“Lilac” video:
As soon as summer has shattered, Katatonia will embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe and the UK together with label mates and Gothenburg’s top-notch metal export Evergrey and Klogr from Italy. 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. Tickets are available now. For more information, visit the official website, here.
Tour dates:
November (with Evergrey & Klogr)
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 (with Evergrey & Klogr)
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)
Katatonia are:
Jonas Renkse – Vocals
Niklas Sandin – Bass
Daniel Moilanen – Drums
Nico Elgstrand – Guitar
Sebastian Svalland – Guitar
(Photo – Terhi Ylimäinen)
The post KATATONIA To Release Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State Album In June; Official Video For First Single “Lilac” Posted appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Once again, the Stockholm-based unit masterfully navigates the tightrope act between nocturnal darkness and Scandinavian despair while subtly weaving a sense of hope into the listener’s heart. Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State marks the next step in Katatonia’s evolution, building upon the foundation of their previous album, Sky Void of Stars (2023) and also is an introduction to their two new guitarists. Katatonia in 2025 is composed of vocalist and founding member Jonas Renkse, bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen, and guitarists Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.
With the album’s lead single “Lilac” revealed today, Katatonia offer a first glimpse of what fans can expect from the new record. The track showcases Jonas Renkse’s unmistakable vocals intertwining with hypnotic rhythms, heavy riffs, and progressive elements. Accompanied by an atmospheric official music video, “Lilac” speaks straight to the heart, proving Katatonia’s matchless ability to draw listeners into a whirlwind of stirring emotions.
Jonas Renkse adds: “We are proud and excited to announce our new album, Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, coming out via Napalm Records on June 6. As always, these songs are the stories that thrive in the corner of the eye, obscured by the light but waiting to come alive in the dusk of our morbid existence. Please enjoy the first scent – ‘Lilac’. ”
Watch the official music video for “Lilac” below.
On Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like “Thrice” and “Warden” pulse with dynamic energy, a near-ceremonial piece, “Wind of No Change”, merges subtle electronic textures with Katatonia’s enigmatic soundscapes, while “Temporal” balances fragility and strength – its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The breathtaking “Efter Solen” (Engl. After the Sun), featuring Swedish lyrics, evokes echoes of Jonas Eika’s 2018 short story collection, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.
Even after more than 30 years, Katatonia continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State stands as a testament to their enduring brilliance. The album was produced by Jonas Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.
Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State will be available in the following formats:
– 1LP Liquid Vinyl Red/Black, incl. 12inch Booklet 12p – strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
Wooden Box, incl. Mediabook + Bonus Bluray Atmos Mix, exclusive Art Print, Cloth Bag – strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– Die Hard 1LP Inkspot Red/Black, incl. 12inch Booklet 12p, Artprint 12inch – strictly limited to 400 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Gatefold Solid GOLD, incl. Lyric Sheet – strictly limited to 400 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Gatefold Marbled Translucent Orange/Black, incl. Lyric Sheet (Band Shop only)
– 1LP Gatefold Black, incl. Lyric Sheet
– 1CD Mediabook, incl. Bonus Track & Remix + extended 24p Booklet
– 1CD Digisleeve, incl. 16p Booklet
– Digital Album
Pre-order here.
Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State tracklisting:
“Thrice”
“The Liquid Eye”
“Wind Of No Change”
“Lilac”
“Temporal”
“Departure Trails”
“Warden”
“The Light Which I Bleed”
“Efter Solen”
“In The Event Of”
“Lilac” video:
As soon as summer has shattered, Katatonia will embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe and the UK together with label mates and Gothenburg’s top-notch metal export Evergrey and Klogr from Italy. 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. Tickets are available now. For more information, visit the official website, here.
Tour dates:
November (with Evergrey & Klogr)
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 (with Evergrey & Klogr)
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)
Katatonia are:
Jonas Renkse – Vocals
Niklas Sandin – Bass
Daniel Moilanen – Drums
Nico Elgstrand – Guitar
Sebastian Svalland – Guitar
(Photo – Terhi Ylimäinen)
The post KATATONIA To Release Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State Album In June; Official Video For First Single “Lilac” Posted appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
