The latest Katatonia full-length, _Night Is the New Day_, is by no
means a difficult album to like if you're a Katatonia fan --
especially if you don't mind some Opeth either, which is hardly an
unlikely set of circumstances. It is, however, an album I found rather
difficult to review.To get the really obvious out of the way, _Night Is the New Day_ is a
damn fine album. It is no less than you would expect from such masters
of their craft as Katatonia, honed and perfected to an amazing extent.
The blend of melody, ambient touches and suitably hard-hitting heavier
sections, all wrapped up in their customary shroud, is every bit as
fulfilling as any fan should have a right to demand.
The reasons why I found _NItND_ difficult to review tend to go back to
the Opeth reference above. Sure, of all the influences one might discern, "Nephilim" has a definite My Dying
Bride vibe (and I certainly don't mean the "lalala" parts), and the
start of "Day and Then the Night" might even bring to mind Dark
Tranquillity before Jonas Renkse's clean vocals emerge in place of
Mikael Stanne's rasp. More significantly however, elsewhere on the
album you may end up wondering what those bits of Opeth are doing in
your Katatonia -- "Idle Blood" is the most obvious example. Musically,
that's not necessarily a bad thing; as I tried to clarify above, in
that regard the entire album is above reproach. Some listeners will be
somewhat mystified by these elements here and there, but whether or
not that will affect their enjoyment of the album will depend on the
individual.
Katatonia have moved in other directions as well, with interesting
changes to their electronic and ambient details, and also some very
tastefully selected sporadic use of piano and cello (or cello-like
synths). You won't get a lot of aggression from this album either --
certainly less than on its predecessor -- but this more pensive
balance is nonetheless suitable. This is never more evident than on
closer "Departer", complete with guest vocals.
Ultimately I can't say that I have enjoyed _Night Is the New Day_
quite as much as its superb predecessor _The Great Cold Distance_, nor that I
have found as much to relate to in its contents. While I find it
unlikely it will be regarded as one of Katatonia's career defining
albums, it is still one of the best records I have heard this year,
which should tell you something about this band.