Gothic Rock? Katatonia? Surely Not! (Tonight's Decision - Katatonia)

Member Name: Mutalisk

Product:	Tonight's Decision - Katatonia
Date:	14/07/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good album-art, memorable choruses, innovative guitar work, melancholy, emotive.

Disadvantages: Poor drums, repetitive, mainstream

Tonight's Decision is the fourth album from diverse Swedish metal band Katatonia. (Not to be confused with 90s Britpop group, 'Catatonia.')

Katatonia share members and are associated with acts like Bloodbath, Opeth, Swallow the Sun, Diabolical Masquerade and October Tide.

Tonight's Decision really signifies this bands move into a more mainstream genre. Although this had previously become apparent in 'Discouraged Ones', the shift between doomy 'Paradise-Lost' worship to more a more darkwave, shoegaze gothic rock style is very obvious here and has been the source of some criticism.
The album art is disctinctive and definitely worth mentioning. It features a spectral male figure in shades of black and blue standing on a rail road track, some excellent photography here. The images really capture the senses of isolation and futility reflected in the lyrics and even moreso, the pace and tone of the music.

This album has the melancholy feel of all of Katatonia's early work, but this time it is infinitely less heavy, featuring slow-tempo dropped-guitar dirges evolving into memorable lead choruses. As gimmicky as this may seem, it works quite well when paried with the Opeth-esque keyboard backing, although unfortunately the drum work is a little lackluster, with little vitality.

Surprising as it may sound, and contrary to the opinions of elitist black metal magazine columnists, Katatonia have successfully retained their integrity whilst taking their music in such an unorthodox direction.

In spite of the genre of this album, and the much unfounded association it has received with lame adolescent angst, I feel the album is a really interesting piece, as it shows a great deal of evolution in the band's excellent, if less-than-eclectic back catalogue.

1. For My Demons
2. I Am Nothing
3. In Death, a Song
4. Had To (Leave)
5. This Punishment
6. Right Into the Bliss
7. No Good Can Come of This
8. Strained
9. A Darkness Coming
10. Nightmares By the Sea (Jeff Buckley cover)
11. Black Session

(Release date: 1999)

Summary: For fans of Opeth and Bloodbath who are looking for something a bit slower, but equally melancholy.