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2006-05-14 NL – Arnhem - Willemeen

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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:. 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… ;)

 

story & pics © Dajana