Sky Devoid of Stars
Album Rating: 9
Reviewed by: Eric Valaer
Sweden’s atmospheric metal kings released their latest album on January 20, 2023. Read on to see my thorough break down of this release.
Austerity: Energy pulsates from the start. The chorus is infectious. What a blistering guitar solo!
Colossal Shade: This tune has a slower tempo. The rhythm guitars drive the verses effectively. At the :58 mark, there’s a Katatonia trademark with a deep palm-muted guitar and a separate guitar sustaining chords with a half-time feel. The chorus is solid.
Opaline: I suppose you can’t be enthusiastic about every song on most albums. The intro reminds me of something that might be played at a high school. Musically, it’s okay.
Birds: Undeniably, this is one of their most catchy songs in their extensive catalog. Katatonia knock down a wall as the song begins! The theme that lead guitarist, Anders Nystrom uses is instantly memorable. The uptempo speed is a hallmark of this piece. Jonas Renkse curates arguably his strongest chorus of the album!
Drab Moon: In Drab Moon, we have one of the more ambient tunes on ’Stars.’ The rhythm section of Daniel Moilanen and Niklas Sandin are prominent.
Author: ‘Author of scars, I see your hands upon my epitaph, Then you shift into a looking glass, A sky devoid of stars.’ This chorus is gripping and melodic. The vocals shine here with an unusual delay effect. A slightly distorted minor chord progression helps shape the verses. Before the chorus, the band plays a groove Tool would be jealous of. One trait of a great band is that they not only have cohesiveness but that they play off of one another. The swift and well timed drum fill leading to the ripping wah solo is such an example.
Impermanence: This tune opens with a tasty guitar/synth melody. The chorus offers hope unlike much of the album.
Sclera: This is not your typical ‘break up’ song. The rhythm section carries the verse. Believe it or not, the vibe of the song is lighter in tone than most of the other tracks. Here’s an excerpt from the bridge: ‘You think it’s summer, But it’s not. It’s deceiving your eyes and paralyzing mine.’ The key change, lyrics and vocal line provide my favorite section of Sclera.
Atrium: This was the first single. It offers an excellent combination of layered guitars & memorable melodies. Like most tracks on this release, the chorus stands out. The vocals soar with a simple yet efficient guitar theme.
No Beacon To Illuminate Our Fall: Just by the title, you can tell that you are going on a journey. This song has an array of colors: melancholy, sparse, spacey, melodious and explosive. Keyboards and both guitars add textures throughout.
Absconder (bonus track): Could this fit in on Night Is The New Day? Without question. There are some thick guitar tracks in this song. 2:52 into Absconder, Katatonia temper their energy & create a sublime section with clean guitars which interact with the keyboards. Just when you think you have it figured out, the bass and drums chime in with a smooth groove. Jonas evokes some emotive excellence to close this album. Katatonia’s 12th album showcases why they are one of the most consistent bands!