Review: Katatonia – Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State

A landscape of melancholy and introspection that feels both familiar and unsettlingly new. This is Katatonia at their most vulnerable. “Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State” is a record forged in the wake of founding guitarist Anders Nyström’s departure, and it carries the weight of that upheaval in every note. The album’s opening salvo of Thrice” and “The Liquid Eye” sets the tone immediately: a blend of crushing riffs, atmospheric synths, and Jonas Renkse’s haunting vocals, all wrapped in a production that’s as polished as it is oppressive. The band’s signature balance of heaviness and melancholy is on full display, but there’s a newfound (and surprising) rawness here, a sense that Katatonia are exploring darker, more experimental corners of their sound. Songs like “Lilac” and “Temporal” are immediate standouts, their soaring melodies and dynamic shifts proving that Katatonia still know how to craft songs that linger long after the music fades. The album’s first half is particularly strong, with the band’s new guitar duo, Nico Elgstrand (Entombed, among others) and Sebastian Svalland, bringing a fresh energy to the table, especially on the surprisingly aggressive “Wind of No Change,” which flirts with Satanic imagery and choral chants in a way that feels both daring and yet distinctly Katatonia.

Yet, for all its strengths, “Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State” occasionally struggles to maintain its momentum. The album’s second half can feel uneven, with songs like “Departure Trails” and “In The Event Of” drifting into a melancholic haze that, while atmospheric, lacks the same punch as the record’s earlier highs. The absence of Nyström’s songwriting input is palpable at times, and there’s a sense that Renkse, now the sole creative force, is still finding his footing in this new era. That said, the album’s high points like the sprawling, strings-laden closer “The Light Which I Bleed” or the hypnotic “Efter Solen” are more than enough to make this a worthwhile listen. Katatonia have always been masters of atmosphere, and “Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State” is no exception. It’s a record that reveals new layers with each listen, and while it may not reach the heights of their most iconic work, it’s a compelling step forward for a band that refuses to stand still.