Review by Jeger on June 7, 2025.

Progressive Metal's most posh band? Katatonia. Some say that their music is boring. Others such as myself would argue that their music is of a masterclass. Since their early Doom days and on through to today, Katatonia has been a zero compromise collective. Yes, their stuff can be overwhelmingly melancholy, but it just oozes a sense of class that no other band within the Prog scene's material can parallel. Is it even Metal? Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. Katatonia's 2023 opus, A Sky Void Of Stars, is predominantly a Progressive Rock piece with various Metal nuances - a work of contemporary musical genius. Now, a new chapter in the Katatonia story has turned. On June 6, Katatonia released Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State via Napalm Records.

Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, from what I've heard so far, when compared to Katatonia's previous LP, is a lively affair. A return-to-form record it seems that sees the band in an awakened state. Tracks like "Wind Of No Change" and "Lilac" deliver those Doom-heralding riffs of olde, all the while as Katatonia continues down the same creative avenues that began with 2006's The Great Cold Distance. And was that a "hail Satan" I just heard? Interesting… the aforementioned "Wind Of No Change" hits like a sledgehammer to the gut during some parts and like a hit of acid during others, while "Lilac" slaps with brief, but gargantuan riffs and striking leads that abruptly transition into dreamlike sequences. All in all, a textbook Katatonia exhibition thus far.

Okay, so, there are still plenty of somber parts; lulling you into, well, a catatonic state like a shot of heroin, but they're generally followed up by wailing guitars and intrepid bass lines; all the stuff that was missing from A Sky Void Of Stars that we get to so gluttonously indulge in now. Still present is the whole Adult Contemporary vibe like if Seal wrote a Progressive Metal record - soothing vocals and a supple massaging of their instruments creates an almost sensual experience, particularly during "Warden", as it unfolds with aquatic tones and a Beatnikish sense of experimentation. Just tinkering along during the following track, "The Light Which I Bleed": taking their time and working toward a poetic final product is Katatonia until the track closes with tragic energy; a sense of your entire world crumbling down around you during the song's closing moments.

The first half of Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State is definitely stronger than the last. Falling asleep now… "Efter Solen" provides the taker in with deep cultural connotations and trance-like parts: lyrics in Swedish and mesmerizing like the faded dream that precursors the lucid REM dream is this most, okay, BORING track. In a state of almost being asleep and then night-night. Man, it's hard to get through this. What an off balance recording. At least we didn't have to wait ten years for it…

I don't want to say that Katatonia missed the mark completely here, but their previous album is definitely superior. This is abstract and dull in comparison. What started off as a near perfect record just fizzles out during the last half. Man, I hate to have to throw this band's naysayers a bone here, but they've got it right when it comes to Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State; at least when it comes down to its closing segments. Just barely awake… Does the music still exude class and character? Is NAEOTWS a record of much depth and substance? The answer to both of these questions is yes, but its tediousness during the second half overpowers any desire to want to listen to the entire album. Not their best, not their worst, just unimpressive.

Rating: 6.7 out of 10

Review by Jeger on June 7, 2025.

Progressive Metal's most posh band? Katatonia. Some say that their music is boring. Others such as myself would argue that their music is of a masterclass. Since their early Doom days and on through to today, Katatonia has been a zero compromise collective. Yes, their stuff can be overwhelmingly melancholy, but it just oozes a sense of class that no other band within the Prog scene's material can parallel. Is it even Metal? Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not. Katatonia's 2023 opus, A Sky Void Of Stars, is predominantly a Progressive Rock piece with various Metal nuances - a work of contemporary musical genius. Now, a new chapter in the Katatonia story has turned. On June 6, Katatonia released Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State via Napalm Records.

Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State, from what I've heard so far, when compared to Katatonia's previous LP, is a lively affair. A return-to-form record it seems that sees the band in an awakened state. Tracks like "Wind Of No Change" and "Lilac" deliver those Doom-heralding riffs of olde, all the while as Katatonia continues down the same creative avenues that began with 2006's The Great Cold Distance. And was that a "hail Satan" I just heard? Interesting… the aforementioned "Wind Of No Change" hits like a sledgehammer to the gut during some parts and like a hit of acid during others, while "Lilac" slaps with brief, but gargantuan riffs and striking leads that abruptly transition into dreamlike sequences. All in all, a textbook Katatonia exhibition thus far.

Okay, so, there are still plenty of somber parts; lulling you into, well, a catatonic state like a shot of heroin, but they're generally followed up by wailing guitars and intrepid bass lines; all the stuff that was missing from A Sky Void Of Stars that we get to so gluttonously indulge in now. Still present is the whole Adult Contemporary vibe like if Seal wrote a Progressive Metal record - soothing vocals and a supple massaging of their instruments creates an almost sensual experience, particularly during "Warden", as it unfolds with aquatic tones and a Beatnikish sense of experimentation. Just tinkering along during the following track, "The Light Which I Bleed": taking their time and working toward a poetic final product is Katatonia until the track closes with tragic energy; a sense of your entire world crumbling down around you during the song's closing moments.

The first half of Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State is definitely stronger than the last. Falling asleep now… "Efter Solen" provides the taker in with deep cultural connotations and trance-like parts: lyrics in Swedish and mesmerizing like the faded dream that precursors the lucid REM dream is this most, okay, BORING track. In a state of almost being asleep and then night-night. Man, it's hard to get through this. What an off balance recording. At least we didn't have to wait ten years for it…

I don't want to say that Katatonia missed the mark completely here, but their previous album is definitely superior. This is abstract and dull in comparison. What started off as a near perfect record just fizzles out during the last half. Man, I hate to have to throw this band's naysayers a bone here, but they've got it right when it comes to Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State; at least when it comes down to its closing segments. Just barely awake… Does the music still exude class and character? Is NAEOTWS a record of much depth and substance? The answer to both of these questions is yes, but its tediousness during the second half overpowers any desire to want to listen to the entire album. Not their best, not their worst, just unimpressive.

Rating: 6.7 out of 10