Katatonia - Dead End Kings (2012)

Twenty years? Has it really been that long since Katatonia released the legendary 'Jhva Elohim Meth' demo? Wait, you're saying its been that long since one of the most magnificent careers in (metal) music began? Much to my amazement... the answer is yes! Constantly changing, always something a little bit different, but still distinctively Katatonia on each and every release.

I first discovered the band back in '01 through their then brand new album, 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down.' Initially I didn't know what to make of it. I mean, I liked it, fucking loved it maybe, but it was the complete opposite of everything I had heard out of Sweden at that time. It wasn't melodic or classic death metal, it definitely wasn't black metal and it surely wasn't doom either. So, what was it? Unavoidably I decided. It was Katatonia and it was something different.

Do you remember when it didn't used to be so dark?

Here in 2012 its, 'Dead End Kings,' the ninth studio album from Katatonia. As far as tempo and mood, the album seems pretty much spot on to '09's, 'Night Is the New Day,' with interesting poetic lyrics and well done lead vocals from Jonas Renkse. The riffs, leads and occasional solos feel quite familiar too, with varying levels of heaviness, almost to the point where these songs seem like extras from the last album recording sessions, thus sort of breaking the bands tradition of progressing onto the next thing. Sort of.

What seems clearly different or rather increased is the synth usage. Each and every song has a fair amount of darkly enticing melody running in the background and even occasionally taking the center stage alongside, Jonas. I can't say anything negative about session member, Frank Default's, keys, piano or random weird bits of input, they are generally well done, but it feels like the guitars are scorned in favor of them. Its perhaps the bands calmest and most non-metal offering to date, which can be viewed as good or bad depending on how much you actually enjoy the band.

But, what about the songs then? The second, 'The One You Are Looking For Is Not Here' really stood out as one of catchier numbers from the get go and with Silje Wergeland from The Gathering on backing vocals it makes for a good pairing (note: this is my first time hearing her). 'Ambitions' also has a remarkable buildup to it that gets quite memorable during the chorus, while 'Undo You,' 'Lethean' and 'First Prayer' are a bit similar, catchy. But for how long?

I keep listening to this album, thinking to myself, "Where is the classic" Every Katatonia album has one or more just top notch songs. Forsaker? Leaders? Evidence? Teargas? No, this one doesn't have songs like them. And that's pretty much why I don't enjoy the bulk of it. It all sounds familiar and the only thing to really hook me in is the synth passages or vocals of Renkse, and perhaps its just not the sort of thing I've been favoring in recent times. The guitars even when fully audible don't do much to please either.

I'd chalk that down as being my own fault. An overdose of primal black metal and old school stuff from the 80's for the better part of the entire year will do that. Not to mention I witnessed the band onstage four time since the last album and each and every performance had the same songs, which probably started to ruin them a bit. I remember when this album was released I barely cared, I only bought it because I happened to come across is used for $8.

So, is it a bad album? Well, no, not really it just sounds quite a bit like the last album, though quieter. Nevertheless, its Katatonia; dark, melancholy and catchy, at least initially. I suspect this may be one of those albums I'll randomly re-discover some months from now and appreciate more so, but for now I can only give it a so-so rating and just put some Teitanblood on and be infinitely more pleased.