Swedish heavy metallers Katatonia have decided to part ways as per their statements. Lead vocalist Jonas Renske, also the former drummer, first took to Instagram to announce the news of him and guitarist-keyboardist Anders Nyström parting ways.
“Anders Nyström and I are going our separate ways,” Renske wrote. “A decision not taken lightly, but for everyone to thrive and move forward with their own creative preferences as well as personal schedules this has become the realistic option. Anders and I started the band in 1991 and his impact on the band’s trademark sound is undeniable.”
“As bleak as this sounds, and is, it’s further evidence of life getting in the way of our preferred plans,” he continued. “I wish Anders all the best for the future.”
More recently Anders Nyström added his comments on the issue. According to Nyström, the roads ahead for the band as well as themselves, have “grown too wide and far apart”, having them to draw a close on the collaboration. Nyström expressed his appreciation for Katatonia’s legacy throughout the years. He also stated that the band deserved to be “mutually laid to rest”.
Katatonia: A Brief History
Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse formed Katatonia in 1991 in Stockholm, as a studio only death metal project. However, for tours and also for albums, when necessary, they have had musicians assisting them. The band had also featured Mikael Åkerfeldt of the band Opeth for a while. Bassist Niklas Sandin had joined in 2012.
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Anders Nyström has appeared on all of their 12 albums starting from Dance of December Souls (1993) to their recent release Sky Void Of Stars (2023).
Through out the years the band has evolved from a death doom sound involving screaming vocals by Renske to a more melodic progressive metal sound with Renske preferring clean vocals later over screaming. Renske’s vocal complications were also a reason for this, apart from the band’s new musical influences as they evolved.
Katatonia has a few gigs lined up in Europe for July, with one in Italy for August. The band is slated to headline an European tour this November, running through mid December. Click here to check out the tour dates!
