07/19/2021 08:57

Katatonia

Katatonia: a collection of rarities and B-sides on its way

This new release marks 30 years since the formation of the band; 'Mnemosynean' contains an extensive collection of all of Katatonia's rarities and B-sides, including tracks from our numerous EPs, unused album songs, limited special edition bonuses, cover songs, as well as a series of collaborative remixes.

The intriguing title of 'Mnemosynean' itself represents memories & was selected because tomb inscriptions dating back to 400 BCE say that the dead could keep their memories by avoiding drinking from the Lethe, and drink instead from the stream flowing from the lake of Mnemosyne (the goddess of memory).

Spanning from 1994's gothic-soaked experimental epic 'Scarlet Heavens' through to tracks recorded during the sessions for 2016's 'The Fall of Hearts', 'Mnemosynean' contains tracks from the band's numerous EPs, unused album songs, limited special edition bonuses, cover songs, as well as a series of collaborative remixes.

Following an early string of doom-inspired releases which quickly established Katatonia as a leading force in the 1990's underground, the Swedes came to true prominence following a transition to a more Metallic, sleek, dark and depressive rock style (fully embracing concepts of urban and social decay, but also retaining some of the distinguishing traits from their early repertoire, such as the melancholy-laced and instantly identifiable melodic guitar leads).

Track listing:

CD1
1. Vakaren (04:54)
2. Sistere (04:11)
3. Wide Awake in Quietus (04:59)
4. Night Comes down (04:14) (Judas Priest cover)
5. Second (03:32)
6. The Act of Darkening (05:52)
7. Ashen (04:06)
8. Sold Heart (04:32)
9. Displaced (05:14)
10. Dissolving Bonds (03:41)
11. Unfurl (04:48)
12. Code Against the Code (03:28)

CD2
1. Wait Outside (03:38)
2. Sulfur (06:22)
3. March 4 (03:51)
4. O How I Enjoy the Light (02:44) (Palace Music cover)
5. Help Me Disappear (05:13)
6. Fractured (05:52)
7. No Devotion (04:48)
8. Quiet World (04:39)
9. Scarlet Heavens (10:27)
10. In the White (Urban Dub) (05:25)
11. My Twin (Opium Dub Version) (04:15)
12. Soil's Song (Krister Linder 2012 Remix) (04:40)
13. Day and then the Shade (Frank Default Remix) (05:40)
14. Idle Blood (Linje 14) (03:23)
15. Hypnone (Frank Default ‘Hypnocadence’ Mix) (04:46)

The collection will be available on mediabook CD and triple-vinyl editions (black vinyls and white vinyls), on Ocotber 1st, 2021, via Peaceville.

The 'Mnemosynean' packaging includes a new band biography courtesy of music journalist Eleanor Goodman, as well as full lyrics plus backgrounds to the track origins described by founding members Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse, along with other close Katatonia collaborators. The artwork for this release has been created by long-running Katatonia visual artist Travis Smith.

(source: Katatonia / Peaceville)