Despite claims of progression, Katotonia haven't changed their sound all that much since Viva Emptiness. Still, that doesn't mean Night is the New Day is a dissapointment. In fact, it is great.
Definitely a step up from Great Cold Distance. Although they still have a touch of those metalcore riffs in there, it is forgivable in respect to the rest of the album. Night Is The New Day sounds like Great Cold Distance, if Steven Wilson had produced it. I was not expecting much from this album and have been really surprised at how it's been growing on me.
I am a huge Katatonia fan, so I've been looking out for this like forever. But with NITND they haven't yet managed to blow me away like they did with Viva Emptiness or The Great Cold Distance. Some songs sound too "whiney" to me. And the only real heavy song on it is "Forsaker" in my eyes. But I heard from a lot of people that this is a grower. So I'll give an update on my final rating. But for now a painful 3.0
Loving The Prog elements. Overall a very good album, it was my first listen to these guys, so maybe I should go back and check out their earlier stuff.
At first Night Is The New Day came off as a pretty cool album. Their increased usage of keyboards, string instruments, and new found heaviness should have proven to be a effective formula. Unfortunately this is not the case. Extremely bland songwriting dooms this album from the get go, credited to a lack of cohesion between the new musical ideas, Katatonia's dark rock/ gothic metal base and Jonas Renske's most uninspired vocal performance to date. Seriously the biggest dissapointment of 2009 for me. This could have been so much better, but alas falls right on it's face.
