Swedish masters of melancholic heaviness, KATATONIA, return with their new album Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, slated for release on June 6, 2025, via Napalm Records. Once again, the Stockholm-based band walks the delicate line between brooding darkness and Nordic despair, all while threading a quiet sense of hope through the shadows.
Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State marks the next chapter in KATATONIA’s ever-evolving journey, expanding on the sonic groundwork laid by Sky Void of Stars (2023) and introducing the band’s two new guitarists. In 2025, the lineup consists of vocalist and founding member Jonas Renkse, bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen, and guitarists Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.
With the release of the album’s lead single, “Lilac”, unveiled today, fans get an early taste of what lies ahead. The track highlights Renkse’s hauntingly distinctive vocals, wrapped in hypnotic rhythms, crushing riffs, and progressive textures. Paired with a moody, atmospheric music video, “Lilac” captures the essence of KATATONIA’s emotional depth and reaffirms their unmatched ability to pull listeners into a swirl of introspective intensity.
Jonas Renkse adds:
“We are proud and excited to announce our new album, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, coming out via Napalm Records on June 6. As always, these songs are the stories that thrive in the corner of the eye, obscured by the light but waiting to come alive in the dusk of our morbid existence. Please enjoy the first scent – ‘Lilac”
On Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like “Thrice” and “Warden” pulse with dynamic energy, a near-ceremonial piece, “Wind of No Change”, merges subtle electronic textures with KATATONIA’s enigmatic soundscapes, while “Temporal” balances fragility and strength – its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The breathtaking “Efter Solen” (Engl. After the Sun), featuring Swedish lyrics, evokes echoes of Jonas Eika’s 2018 short story collection, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.
Even after more than 30 years, KATATONIA continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State stands as a testament to their enduring brilliance. The album was produced by Jonas Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.
Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State tracklist:
1. Thrice
2. The Liquid Eye
3. Wind of no Change
4. Lilac
5. Temporal
6. Departure Trails
7. Warden
8. The Light Which I Bleed
9. Efter Solen
10. In the Event of
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