| Doors: 7 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 28.00 Euro + fees |

The Night Has Come Down Over Cologne

End of 2017 KATATONIA surprisingly announced a "short-term hiatus" and cancelled a handful of live shows. Instead, half of the staff had a lot of fun while touring with Bloodbath. Even in January 2019, guitarist Anders Nyströn explained that the future of KATATONIA is uncertain and that “there's a lot of things to be solved”. One month later the Swedish dark rockers made a U-turn and announced their return. Nope, no new album. There is no new material in sight but there is an anniversary, the 10th birthday of Night Is The New Day to be used for a release of a limited deluxe edition of the album and a handful of selected live dates. It is not meant to be a flash in the pan. Says the band: "We will BEGIN our return with a celebration of our album Night Is The New Day…”
Regarding the celebration - count us in ;)

So, let’s go to Cologne, once again, to hit the unloved :: Live Music Hall ::. As for lights and sound I’m pessimistic – a stage setting KATATONIA seem to love, they played there on their last tour in 2016 too. The venue is crowded but not sold out, thank Buddha. It is not that I would not grant them a full house, no way, but a sold out LMH is unbearable.

:: pics :: WHEEL ::

Katatonia have not sally out to paint the town red all alone, they invited some illustrious guest to help, most of all the crazy Brit/Finns of :: WHEEL ::. With their two EPs and the most recently unleashed debut Moving Backwards, they have caused quite a stir. Indie Prog Rock with a touch of Grunge… a crazy mixture. With a sharp tongue, you also could call them a Tool tribute band, a legitimate hair, if you ask me, even if the original one seems to release something new sooner or later. However, I like their style and music. Light the hooded men do not need (I, as a photographer, actually do …grrr) and play short and crispy through their new record. Highly recommended by the way.
I knew, as an opener they would have much time but their 30 minutes set passed by way too fast though. What a shame to let them play that short time. I definitely want to see them again. As headliner or co-headliner, whatever, with a longer running show anyway. Great band, great show, much love!

Band: James Lascelles (vox, git), Mikko Määttä (bass), Santeri Saksala (drums), Roni Seppänen (git)

Setlist: Vultures, Tyrant, Where The Pieces Lie, Wheel

:: pics :: CELLAR DARLING ::

To quote a dear friend (roughly translated): “C’mon, let’s go down into the cellar, darling” (to sing).
Well, I’m willed to say that :: CELLAR DARLING :: is kind of the emancipated version of Eluveitie. Their second output, The Spell, may cast itself on the listener, but, on CD only. Live on stage Anna Murphy was lacking of power and volume in her voice. It gets even more noticeable since her voice is put much in the foreground. Okay, she also has to play the hurdy-gurdy and a flute in between. Unfortunately, the backing vocals by the keyboarder were hardly to hear too. Generally, the sound, and light too, was quite bad. Although Anna reminded me a bit of Anneke van Giersbergen to The Gathering times I could not take much pleasure in the CELLAR DARLING performance. I also did not like the fact that (live session) keyboard player and (live) bassist were standing much aloof the three core members. Did not show a harmonious band picture.
Ambivalent performance that was received by polite applause.

Band: Merlin Sutter (drums), Ivo Henzi (git), Anna Murphy (vox, hurdy gurdy, flute), Nicolas Winter (bass), XXX (keys)

Setlist: Black Moon, Six Days, Death, The Spell, Insomnia, Freeze, Redemption

:: pics :: KATATONIA ::

If you ask me, I would have loved to see :: KATATONIA :: all alone with a 2 hrs+ show. The band’s history and backing catalogue is huge and there should be more than just one song/album/event to get used for a special celebration.
However, the band’s eighth record, Night Is The New Day, was played in its entirety with the songs in its original order. Some of its songs were not played live for ages, Inheritance was played live for the very first time on this tour and the grand finale, Departer, with the second vocals by guitarist Roger Öjerss (Krister Linder on CD) caused goosebumps all over.
The band was in high spirits and visibly enjoyed to play all those old songs again. As usual, hardly any announcements. Ok, there is no need for. The crowd new all the songs. What a fantastic show that was! Just way too short. Night Is The New Day does not run even 50 minutes, so an encore was highly demanded, with actual songs, an old classic, and the Judas Priest cover version Night Comes Down. This one perfectly matches the motif but is debatable.
What made this concert evening even better was the entertainment aside the music. I have not laughed so often and so hard at concert for a long time. So it became late afterwards. Very late…. Oh… wait… early. Even the tour busses left the yard earlier than we did. The ride back home was surely a fight against the tiredness, but it was it all worth ;) Awesome evening!

Band: Jonas Renkse (vox), Anders Nyström (git), Niklas Sandin (bass), Daniel Moilanen (drums), Roger Öjersson (git)

Setlist: Forsaker, The Longest Year, Idle Blood, Onward Into Battle, Liberation, The Promise Of Deceit, Nephilim, New Night, Inheritance (live debut), Day And Then The Shade, Departer // Lethean, Old Heart Falls, July, Night Comes Down

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography