Katatonia

Katatonia is a Swedish metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. The group begins as a studio-focused death metal project and later expands for live work, with the lineup changing frequently through the 1990s. Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth is among the musicians involved in this early period.

The band’s early albums, Dance of December Souls and Brave Murder Day, are rooted in death-doom metal. As Renkse’s vocal approach changes and the band’s influences broaden, Katatonia moves toward a more melodic and progressive style, with Discouraged Ones and Tonight’s Decision marking that shift. In the 2000s, the group settles into a more stable quintet and releases Last Fair Deal Gone Down, Viva Emptiness, The Great Cold Distance, and Night Is the New Day, increasingly incorporating progressive rock elements while moving away from traditional metal.

Lineup changes continue in the 2010s, but Renkse and Nyström remain the consistent core. The band releases Dead End Kings and The Fall of Hearts, then enters a semi-hiatus after touring for the latter. Katatonia later returns with City Burials, Sky Void of Stars, and Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State. The band’s sound is associated with alternative metal, alternative rock, avant-garde, death-doom metal, doom metal, gothic metal, and related progressive and depressive rock styles.

Members associated with Katatonia include Anders Nyström, Jonas Renkse, Guillaume Le Huche, Fredrik Norrman, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Mikael Oretoft, Mattias Norrman, Daniel Liljekvist, Per Eriksson, Niklas Sandin, Daniel Moilanen, Roger Öjersson, Nico Elgstrand, and Sebastian Svalland.