Katatonia - Viva Emptiness
2003 - Peaceville
By Mark Bridgeman
To say that this latest offering from Katatonia is an important piece of work - both as part of their ouvre and as leverage to push them higher up the popular ladder - would be an understatement. Perhaps it's just my perception, and not something that is actually true, but I have not seen Katatonia as being a band held in awe'd regard in the same way that, for example, Opeth or In Flames have been in the last few years.
This album, with its lush atmosphere, chilling performances, and simply breathtaking delivery and songwriting, should go a long way towards marking the band as one of the most important bands in the heavy music genre. Whether it will or not is, of course, up to the music buying public. But any failure in this album gaining mass appeal will certainly not be a reflection of just what a finely spun piece of work 'viva emptiness' is for a band that has always been balancing on the line seperating excellence and genius.
From the opening chords of 'Ghost Of The Sun', to the closing strains of 'Inside The City Of Glass', we're given a blend of finely turned vocals, heaving, breathless guitars, and a solid-stomp of rhythm performances. An excercise in melancholy best describes the majority of music presented here, but where (in this writer's opinion) Katatonia have in the past failed to push the envelope from being a great Doom band to being one that can sink its claws into the true beast of melody, it is here with tracks such as 'Criminals', 'A Premonition', and the amazing 'Omerta' that band have pulled everything into place to finally show what song writing chops they possess.
This is indeed the album I always hoped Katatonia would make. And praise the Lord-uh, they've done it!
10/10
2003 - Peaceville
By Mark Bridgeman
To say that this latest offering from Katatonia is an important piece of work - both as part of their ouvre and as leverage to push them higher up the popular ladder - would be an understatement. Perhaps it's just my perception, and not something that is actually true, but I have not seen Katatonia as being a band held in awe'd regard in the same way that, for example, Opeth or In Flames have been in the last few years.
This album, with its lush atmosphere, chilling performances, and simply breathtaking delivery and songwriting, should go a long way towards marking the band as one of the most important bands in the heavy music genre. Whether it will or not is, of course, up to the music buying public. But any failure in this album gaining mass appeal will certainly not be a reflection of just what a finely spun piece of work 'viva emptiness' is for a band that has always been balancing on the line seperating excellence and genius.
From the opening chords of 'Ghost Of The Sun', to the closing strains of 'Inside The City Of Glass', we're given a blend of finely turned vocals, heaving, breathless guitars, and a solid-stomp of rhythm performances. An excercise in melancholy best describes the majority of music presented here, but where (in this writer's opinion) Katatonia have in the past failed to push the envelope from being a great Doom band to being one that can sink its claws into the true beast of melody, it is here with tracks such as 'Criminals', 'A Premonition', and the amazing 'Omerta' that band have pulled everything into place to finally show what song writing chops they possess.
This is indeed the album I always hoped Katatonia would make. And praise the Lord-uh, they've done it!
10/10
