After
three years of absence Swedish dark metallers KATATONIA
are back with a brand new album entitled The Great
Cold Distance that left fans and critics split and
discussing (from boring up to the best KATATONIA
album everything was to read and to hear around). Now in support
of their new record they again invited Italian NOVEMBRE
to share the bill, a band that suits very well the Swedes. Together
we got a package that brought the bleak soundtrack of the apocalypse.
For the final show I headed out to Arnhem, looking forward to
this event for weeks, even more, since first live reports promised
something great. The W1
(Willemeen) was crowded but not sold out and everybody in high
expectation creating a great mood right from the beginning…
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pics ::
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NOVEMBRE
~ kicked off 10 to nine and hadn’t any problems
to enthusiast the audience. Songs from the new album Materia
went down really well, while older songs even made the fans going
wild with enthusiasm. The sunny guys were in best mood rocking
the stage. Sound was clean and differentiated; only the singing
was too low. As for me it was ok, since I don’t like the
voice of singer Carmelo Orlando that much. It’s too soft
and too gentle for my taste. It needs more power and expressiveness.
The band spent much time on the new album and it paid off. Songs
appeared much more sophisticated and mature. But I think a slight
progressive touch wouldn’t do any harm either. Good show
though!
:.
KATATONIA
~ spent some more time to change the backline
and delivered the first gimmick in turning the logo-walls upside
down ;) Finally KATATONIA got in with an atmospheric
intro and the opener of the new album Leader… and
totally surprised!!! Who said KATATONIA don't
rock??? Jeeeeez, they do! And how they do… Ok, it was different
in the past, branding the band as a bad live act. And none was
expecting such energetic show. It seems, the guys took that to
their hearts and changed what was to change in this matter. The
gentlemen Nyström and Norrman played their asses off, while
singer Jonas Renske did the contemplative way, hiding his face
behind his hair. Just now and then he stepped back to headbang.
As more the fans let their heads rotate. Was great to see the
venue rocking and that, where Dutch people are known to be more
reserved… Besides half of the songs from the new album KATATONA
played a well-chosen retrospective thru their entire discography.
Ok, almost, the first release was left behind. However, after
around a one and a half hour lasting amazing show Novembre, the
crew and a couple of fans entered the stage creating a nice turmoil.
The techs armed themselves with instruments so that you had four
or even five guitarists playing on stage. At the end also skinman
Daniel Liljekvist paved himself a way THROUGH his drumkit. What
an amazing finish!
Setlist: Leaders, Wealth, Soil’s Song,
Deadhouse, Teargas, Sweet Nurse, Deliberation, Ghost Of The Sun,
My Twin, Criminals, Future Of Speech, Tonight’s Music, For
My Demons, Sleeper, July, In The White // Evidence, Murder
It seems,
on this tour KATATONIA outdone themselves. Songs
of the new album The Great Cold Distance
and Viva Emptiness rocked as fuck with
a much better feel as on CD. And now, where the Swedes don’t
act nailed anymore… mmmmm, yeah! All things considered:
a fantastic show! Those who missed, missed something special,
that’s for sure! Just in matter of being close to the fans
and party mood, especially at this last day, both bands have to
practice a little bit more. Strange, that we were the last ones
though, leaving the W1 *lol*. Oh, btw… for the ones attending
a show in Arnhem in the future (de Goudvishal or Arnhem Metal
Meeting for example), parking houses are expensive and are not
open all day and night… ;)