Almost 30 years have passed since Katatonia from the Stockholm death metal underground blossomed. Founder duo Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström have continued to develop the band's music towards progressive rock and beyond. Their eleventh album "City Burials" stands for tradition as well as for the will to constantly discover new things.
After "The Fall Of Hearts" (2016) Katatonia took an official break. However, the band did not rest completely, as singer and composer Jonas Renkse admits in an interview: He also used the time off to work on the follow-up album "City Burials" without external pressure.
eclipsed: What were you guys doing during the break?
Jonas Renkse: We have written and recorded a new album with Bloodbath and played some concerts. Putting Katatonia on ice opened up another perspective for us. But I didn't really take a break, I kept on writing music for Katatonia. I simply enjoy it.
eclipsed: How important is Bloodbath for your artistic balance?
Renkse: That's really great! I think I speak for Anders as well. Just because the Katatonia sound has changed over the years doesn't mean that we don't like extreme music anymore. We love it, we just can't use it here anymore. Bloodbath is the perfect valve. We turn back time and enjoy the magic that attracted us to death metal back then. Good for our mental health. (laughs)
eclipsed: Did the time off change your approach to working for Katatonia?
Renkse: The biggest difference was that there was no deadline. That was very relieving when writing songs: No label told me when to deliver anything. The label didn't even know if we would come back at all.
eclipsed: You have returned with the tour for the 10th anniversary of "Night Is The New Day" (2009). Did this influence the new songs?
Renkse: Not really. Most of it was already written. But it helped us to get everything going again - more gently than in a cold start with a new album. That's why we took this opportunity.
