 | Katatonia Dance of December Souls
3.7
great
| Ranking: #197 for 1993 | |
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| | Full Review | Ratings (611) |
Give your Rating |
| 3.5 great | Xenorazr | December 27th 16 |
Dance of December Souls doesn't exactly blend in with the rest of Katatonia's catalog, but it does possess the same power of growth over multiple listens. The slow nature of this album is only amplified by how thick and heavy the music is. It's certainly not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those looking to get a quick fix. This is an album that demands time and patience, possibly more so than other Katatonia albums. And though the entire affair isn't without problems, dedicated listeners will be hard-pressed to find an album that begins to match Dance of December Souls' bleak, desperate atmosphere.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Skyline28 | March 16th 16 |
A nice album with a compelling atmosphere and youthful charm. That said many of the songs overstay their welcome and the vocals and lyrics stray into parody with their unconvincing and overwrought existential angst.
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| 5.0 classic | Moneylishi | December 15th 22 |
If it is true that Jonas Renske damaged his vocals as a result of his growling technique, then that is a crying shame, because in that time frame he (and the band) crafted one of the best death-doom albums of all time.
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| 2.0 poor | Santa Koopa | September 28th 22 |
good here n there but quite boring deafdum
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| 3.0 good | Britch2tiger | May 17th 20 |
I wanted to like this album more but the instrumentals and vocals weren't THAT impressive. The longer instrumental sections transitions weren't seemless at all and the main vocalist had maybe only 3 modes of singing throughout the entire album. I know this group gets better but I don't find this album as very impressionable...
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| 3.5 great | CamiloG | October 16th 15 |
Dance of December Souls would be way better if the songs didn't drag as much as they do. This is an album filled with excellent ideas, the main problem is that they seem a little bit over the place. Another issue I have with this record are the vocals which is an aspect I don't dig that much. This is a very good record and has some nice moments, despite of what I stated before.
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| 3.5 great | Handyman003 | July 22nd 14 |
After a couple years in the death metal underground, Swedish heavyweights Katatonia got off to a promising start with their first LP, Dance of December Souls. Released in December 1993 no less, it proved that classic death/doom need not come from England, whence, until then, the genre had flourished at the hands of Paradise Lost, Anathema, and My Dying Bride. In fact, Dance of December Souls manages to drag heavy metal to a near-standstill along with the best of 'em, combining cookie-monster growls, slothful riffing, morbid guitar (and synthesizer) melodies, and slow but busy drumming into a mesmerizing wash of depression. Eight-minute highlight "Gateways of Bereavement" and the desolately beautiful instrumental "Elohim Meth" are both perfect examples of these exquisitely sluggish and gloomy capabilities, although other offerings like "In Silence Enshrined" and the fan favorite "Without God" do eventually pick up the pace somewhat -- also with very positive results. I also like the ensuing twin monoliths "Velvet Thorns (Of Drynwhyl)" and "Tomb of Insomnia," which boast a number of memorable passages despite their back-to-back length of around 13 minutes each. With grimly inspired lyrics to back up the sorrowful riffs and melodies, Katatonia succeed in their mission, and despite poor production, Dance of December Souls remains one of the death/doom genre's important building blocks. The 2007 re-release includes the demo album "Jhva Elohim Meth", which has a bit more of a black metal influence.
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| 3.0 good | ThrashK | July 25th 13 |
A mixed bag, a few very good moments (especially Velvet Thorns (Of Drynwhyl)) but overall the albums sounds a little too long.
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| 4.0 excellent | lanchege | April 22nd 07 |
This is an excellent album. Renske's vocals on this release are indescribable, I wish he could still scream like he did. This is without a doubt their best album.
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| 4.0 excellent | Thor | August 20th 25 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sarah | June 15th 25 |
| 3.0 good | Dewinged EMERITUS | February 18th 25 |
| 3.0 good | MAB | November 20th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | August 13th 24 |
| 5.0 classic | Davey | May 26th 24 |
| 3.0 good | doofy | January 8th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | June 29th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | YRI | March 15th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Coast | February 28th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Bard0 | January 25th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfy80 | November 16th 22 |
| 3.0 good | Grobeu | September 10th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | August 11th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | July 2nd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bren80 | June 15th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | flvnkie | December 29th 21 |
| 2.5 average | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 3.0 good | Lvxfra | October 26th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | quetzal | August 24th 21 |
| 3.5 great | mctang | February 27th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | dwbtdom | February 2nd 21 |
| 3.5 great | Spag | January 28th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nagrarok | December 13th 20 |
| 2.5 average | Zaleb | July 19th 20 |
| 3.0 good | haley | April 26th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | apomifd | April 25th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | bahlof | March 15th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Greks | February 24th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | CK1991 | January 30th 20 |
| 3.5 great | mEyck07 | November 19th 19 |
| 3.0 good | Troggy | September 17th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aske | September 13th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | HybridF | August 21st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | qyxxxyq | April 9th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | xfortinx | February 21st 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Blurbs | December 19th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Nisraak | November 10th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Akifexx | October 5th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | ashen386 | September 30th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Casavir | September 7th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kasper | July 16th 18 |
| 2.2 poor | Rowan5215 EMERITUS | February 12th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | AriDoe | January 27th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Elynna | January 9th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Fear | December 27th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 3.0 good | evn | April 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | bSmith | January 17th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brandon | December 30th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Wolfe | December 28th 16 |
| 3.5 great | El Olam | December 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | jpjpablo | December 11th 16 |
| 2.5 average | SuzyC | November 30th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Swarm | November 14th 16 |
| 3.5 great | GxTxK | October 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | pnh1088 | September 29th 16 |
| 3.0 good | btati | June 1st 16 |
| 3.5 great | Yusuf | May 27th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | April 27th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Pavera | April 13th 16 |
| 3.5 great | bobby72 | February 17th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | esav | January 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Abraxas | November 29th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Pegana | November 27th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bierlag | October 24th 15 |
| 3.5 great | ABlake | October 23rd 15 |
| 3.5 great | Gbhill | October 15th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | mEyck97 | September 29th 15 |
| 3.5 great | ngk44 | September 4th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | trvvve | April 29th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | trve | April 26th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Aion | March 6th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Dav85 | February 1st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Marxman | December 24th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surtur | July 28th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nud | July 20th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | RAM89 | April 1st 14 |
| 2.5 average | Tomes | February 27th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | OpenIn | February 23rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Lunx | February 22nd 14 |
| 3.5 great | Weirman | February 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | NieR | February 3rd 14 |
| 1.0 awful | Xehiros | December 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | OpenCar | November 27th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Solaire | November 10th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | hsb | September 29th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Majkl | September 20th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Smial | September 6th 13 |
| 2.5 average | Daedus | August 22nd 13 |
| 2.5 average | YaelPol | August 11th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Shabz | July 9th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunlar | March 28th 13 |
| 3.0 good | hraffe | March 24th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ashder | February 26th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | February 21st 13 |
| 3.0 good | Swoon | January 7th 13 |
| 3.0 good | Zeg | December 30th 12 |
| 3.5 great | vkristi | November 13th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Gard3n | October 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | yjrb | October 9th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | sagu | September 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zappo | August 29th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Lethe | August 18th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Marth | August 18th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Vasco | July 12th 12 |
| 3.5 great | RAGG | July 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | leycec | June 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | April 7th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Cyan1d3 | April 2nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | KILL | March 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Katechon | February 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | 32left | January 4th 12 |
| 3.0 good | tmm87 | December 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Apollo | November 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | rica | October 6th 11 |
| 3.5 great | joec101 | September 18th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ABC | September 14th 11 |
| 3.5 great | true | September 5th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | deadoku | August 17th 11 |
| 3.0 good | stfrnz | August 17th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Likferd | July 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | endtell | June 22nd 11 |
| 2.5 average | Trey STAFF | June 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Seanny | May 31st 11 |
| 3.5 great | YUJOS | May 14th 11 |
| 2.0 poor | cb123 | April 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | MO | April 3rd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Majk | March 14th 11 |
| 3.5 great | kotsis | February 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Track11 | November 29th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Aether | November 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Mikk | November 3rd 10 |
| 4.6 superb | Ryan P STAFF | October 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Kenos | September 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | miltos | September 5th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | ennui | May 9th 10 |
| 3.5 great | rc1288 | March 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | unfsin | September 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Set | September 12th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | Saidir | December 17th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | tarcus | November 21st 08 |
| 3.5 great | M@rty | July 12th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Sponer | January 25th 08 |
| 2.5 average | Altmer | January 18th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Jmaj14 | August 31st 07 |
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