Sky Void of Stars is the twelfth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia. It was released on 20 January 2023 and was generally well received by critics.
In April 2020, Katatonia released their eleventh studio album, City Burials.[3] The band had initially planned on touring in support of the album, but the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic halted all plans.[3] Upon realizing that this was not a short-term issue, but something that was going to be completely halting their ability to tour, they instead turned to releasing further music.[3] These plans including releasing a new live album Dead Air (2020), a compilation album Mnemosynean (2021), a box setMelancholium (2022), and forging ahead into writing and recording a twelfth studio album.[4][5]
Writing and recordingedit
Work on the album started shortly after the April 2020 release of City Burials.[4] While most Katatonia albums were written as a collaboration between vocalist Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström, the album, like its predecessor, was written entirely by Renkse.[1][4] The album is not directly about the COVID pandemic, but rather, the writing sessions acted as a sort of therapy to help Renkse maintain his mental health while living through it.[4] The album's title, Sky Void of Stars, alludes to the centuries old concept that travelers sailing ocean couldn't travel when there aren't any stars lighting the sky and environment; a metaphor of sorts to how they felt "frozen" and "crippled" as a band with an unclear path forward while enduring the COVID pandemic.[5] The title is taken from the lyrics of the track "Author".[5]
The song "Colossal Shade" was inspired by Lick It Up-era of music from the band Kiss; the track was an effort to implement guitar riffs like those found on the respective Kiss album and mold them into Katatonia's own sound.[5] The track "Opaline" was similarly influenced by the music of the Swedish pop rock band Kent in an effort to meld their sound into Katatonia's sound.[5] The main guitar riff for the track "Birds" was originally rejected by Renkse for too closely resembling something from the gothic metal band Paradise Lost, but he later reversed the decision, feeling it was appropriate to use as a bit of a homage to the band.[5]Joel Ekelof of the Swedish progressive metal band Soen recorded vocals for the song "Impermanence.[4] Ekelof and Renkse had intended to collaborate for quite some time, but hadn't found the right way to do it.[5]
Jacob Hansen returned from the City Burial sessions again to mix and master the album, and this time extending his help into the area of music production as well.[4] The album was described as more guitar driven than their prior album, City Burials.[1]
Release and promotionedit
The album's name, Sky Void of Stars, and release date, 20 January 2023, was announced on 26 October 2022.[6] The album was also announced to be their first to be released on record labelNapalm Records.[7] The first single, "Atrium" was also released at the time of the announcement in October,[6][1] while a second single, "Austerity" was released ahead of the album on 2 December 2022.[8][9] A European and Latin American tour in support of the album is scheduled for early 2023.[6] Napalm Records sold a limited edition cd/blu-ray box containing a Dolby Atmos mix of the entire album, created from session stems and mixed by Bruce Soord of The Pinapple Thief. This mix is also available streaming on Apple Music.
Receptionedit
Sky Void of Stars was generally well-received by music critics. Metal Hammer praised the album for its combination and variety of rock and metal elements, concluding that "The only predictable thing about Sky Void Of Stars is how absurdly fucking great it is."[10]Metal Injection concluded that "If you evaluate each song individually on their musical merits, they are all excellent. But what Katatonia has always been able to do, and what they've done again on Sky Void of Stars, is to also build an emotional connection and resonance in their songs that has an exponential effect, making for a sum greater than its parts." Blabbermouth, alluding to the band's transitions through various genre over their career, noted that "Sky Void of Stars is the embodiment of a band that no matter the change in presentation, is still the darkest and most varied in metal.[1] Sputnik Music's staff review praised the album for " manag[ing] to recapture the essence that made them sovereigns of the progressive metal scene, marrying the gloom wizardry they unearthed at the turn of the new millennium with the soothing wisdom that emanates from their latest compositions."[2]
^ abcCollins, Dillon (17 January 2023). "JONAS RENKSE Talks KATATONIA's New Album Sky Void Of Stars & Dance Of December Souls Turning 30". Metal Injection.
^ abcdefBowar, Chad (16 January 2023). "Album Review: KATATONIA Sky Void of Stars". Metal Injection.
^"Swisscharts.com – Katatonia – Sky Void of Stars". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
^"Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
^"Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
May 13, 2024
void, stars, twelfth, studio, album, swedish, heavy, metal, band, katatonia, released, january, 2023, generally, well, received, critics, studio, album, katatoniareleased20, january, 2023recorded2020, 2022genreprogressive, rock, progressive, metal, length45, 4. Sky Void of Stars is the twelfth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia It was released on 20 January 2023 and was generally well received by critics Sky Void of StarsStudio album by KatatoniaReleased20 January 2023Recorded2020 2022GenreProgressive rock 1 progressive metal 1 2 Length45 47LabelNapalmKatatonia chronologyCity Burials 2020 Sky Void of Stars 2023 Singles from Sky Void of Stars Atrium Released 20 October 2022 Austerity Released 2 December 2022 Contents 1 Background 2 Writing and recording 3 Release and promotion 4 Reception 5 Track listing 6 Personnel 7 Charts 8 ReferencesBackground editIn April 2020 Katatonia released their eleventh studio album City Burials 3 The band had initially planned on touring in support of the album but the breakout of the COVID 19 pandemic halted all plans 3 Upon realizing that this was not a short term issue but something that was going to be completely halting their ability to tour they instead turned to releasing further music 3 These plans including releasing a new live album Dead Air 2020 a compilation album Mnemosynean 2021 a box set Melancholium 2022 and forging ahead into writing and recording a twelfth studio album 4 5 Writing and recording editWork on the album started shortly after the April 2020 release of City Burials 4 While most Katatonia albums were written as a collaboration between vocalist Jonas Renkse and Anders Nystrom the album like its predecessor was written entirely by Renkse 1 4 The album is not directly about the COVID pandemic but rather the writing sessions acted as a sort of therapy to help Renkse maintain his mental health while living through it 4 The album s title Sky Void of Stars alludes to the centuries old concept that travelers sailing ocean couldn t travel when there aren t any stars lighting the sky and environment a metaphor of sorts to how they felt frozen and crippled as a band with an unclear path forward while enduring the COVID pandemic 5 The title is taken from the lyrics of the track Author 5 The song Colossal Shade was inspired by Lick It Up era of music from the band Kiss the track was an effort to implement guitar riffs like those found on the respective Kiss album and mold them into Katatonia s own sound 5 The track Opaline was similarly influenced by the music of the Swedish pop rock band Kent in an effort to meld their sound into Katatonia s sound 5 The main guitar riff for the track Birds was originally rejected by Renkse for too closely resembling something from the gothic metal band Paradise Lost but he later reversed the decision feeling it was appropriate to use as a bit of a homage to the band 5 Joel Ekelof of the Swedish progressive metal band Soen recorded vocals for the song Impermanence 4 Ekelof and Renkse had intended to collaborate for quite some time but hadn t found the right way to do it 5 Jacob Hansen returned from the City Burial sessions again to mix and master the album and this time extending his help into the area of music production as well 4 The album was described as more guitar driven than their prior album City Burials 1 Release and promotion editThe album s name Sky Void of Stars and release date 20 January 2023 was announced on 26 October 2022 6 The album was also announced to be their first to be released on record label Napalm Records 7 The first single Atrium was also released at the time of the announcement in October 6 1 while a second single Austerity was released ahead of the album on 2 December 2022 8 9 A European and Latin American tour in support of the album is scheduled for early 2023 6 Napalm Records sold a limited edition cd blu ray box containing a Dolby Atmos mix of the entire album created from session stems and mixed by Bruce Soord of The Pinapple Thief This mix is also available streaming on Apple Music Reception editSky Void of Stars was generally well received by music critics Metal Hammer praised the album for its combination and variety of rock and metal elements concluding that The only predictable thing about Sky Void Of Stars is how absurdly fucking great it is 10 Metal Injection concluded that If you evaluate each song individually on their musical merits they are all excellent But what Katatonia has always been able to do and what they ve done again on Sky Void of Stars is to also build an emotional connection and resonance in their songs that has an exponential effect making for a sum greater than its parts Blabbermouth alluding to the band s transitions through various genre over their career noted that Sky Void of Stars is the embodiment of a band that no matter the change in presentation is still the darkest and most varied in metal 1 Sputnik Music s staff review praised the album for manag ing to recapture the essence that made them sovereigns of the progressive metal scene marrying the gloom wizardry they unearthed at the turn of the new millennium with the soothing wisdom that emanates from their latest compositions 2 Track listing editAll tracks are written by Jonas RenkseSky Void of Stars track listingNo TitleLength1 Austerity 3 412 Colossal Shade 4 293 Opaline 5 004 Birds 4 085 Drab Moon 3 596 Author 4 177 Impermanence featuring Joel Ekelof 5 128 Sclera 4 459 Atrium 4 0810 No Beacon to Illuminate Our Fall 6 08Total length 45 47 Digital and limited edition CD bonus trackNo TitleLength11 Absconder 4 47Total length 50 34Personnel editKatatonia Jonas Renkse lead vocals production art direction Anders Nystrom guitars production art direction Roger Ojersson guitars Niklas Sandin bass Daniel Moilanen drumsCharts editChart performance for Sky Void of Stars Chart 2023 Peakposition Austrian Albums O3 Austria 11 13 Belgian Albums Ultratop Flanders 12 48 Belgian Albums Ultratop Wallonia 13 140 Dutch Albums Album Top 100 14 43 Finnish Albums Suomen virallinen lista 15 5 French Albums SNEP 16 193 German Albums Offizielle Top 100 17 5 Scottish Albums OCC 18 26 Swiss Albums Schweizer Hitparade 19 3 UK Independent Albums OCC 20 8 UK Rock amp Metal Albums OCC 21 5References edit a b c d e f Sky Void Of Stars BLABBERMOUTH NET 16 January 2023 a b Review Katatonia Sky Void of Stars Sputnikmusic www sputnikmusic com a b c Collins Dillon 17 January 2023 JONAS RENKSE Talks KATATONIA s New Album Sky Void Of Stars amp Dance Of December Souls Turning 30 Metal Injection a b c d e f Bowar Chad 16 January 2023 Album Review KATATONIA Sky Void of Stars Metal Injection a b c d e f g Apple Music iTunes Sky Void of Stars Interview with Jonas Renkse a b c Childers Chad 26 October 2022 Katatonia Return With Melancholic New Song Atrium Announce 2023 Studio Album Loudwire Katatonia Biography Songs amp Albums AllMusic Keenan Hesher 2 December 2022 Katatonia Drop the Second Single from Sky Void of Stars and Video for Austerity MetalSucks Katatonia premiere Austerity Sputnikmusic www sputnikmusic com Lawsonpublished Dom 15 January 2023 Dark prog magi Katatonia deliver more epic gloom on Sky Void Of Stars louder Austriancharts at Katatonia Sky Void of Stars in German Hung Medien Retrieved 19 February 2023 Ultratop be Katatonia Sky Void of Stars in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved 19 February 2023 Ultratop be Katatonia Sky Void of Stars in French Hung Medien Retrieved 19 February 2023 Dutchcharts nl Katatonia Sky Void of Stars in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved 19 February 2023 Katatonia Sky Void of Stars in Finnish Musiikkituottajat IFPI Finland Retrieved 19 February 2023 Top Albums Week 4 2023 in French Syndicat National de l Edition Phonographique Retrieved 19 February 2023 Offiziellecharts de Katatonia Sky Void of Stars in German GfK Entertainment Charts Retrieved 19 February 2023 Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 19 February 2023 Swisscharts com Katatonia Sky Void of Stars Hung Medien Retrieved 19 February 2023 Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 Official Charts Company Retrieved 19 February 2023 Official Rock amp Metal Albums Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Retrieved 19 February 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sky Void of Stars amp oldid 1214856885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
