"Lethean", the new video from Swedish dark rockers
KATATONIA, can be seen at
Rocknytt.net. The clip was shot by
Lasse Hoile, who has previously worked with
KATATONIA as well as
OPETH and
PORCUPINE TREE. The song comes off
KATATONIA's ninth album,
"Dead End Kings", which sold 3,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 138 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 4 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
KATATONIA's previous album, 2009's
"Night Is The New Day", opened with around 2,200 units.
"Dead End Kings" was released on August 28, 2012 (one day earlier internationally) via
Peaceville Records. Containing some of
KATATONIA's most poignant and ambitious material to date, the CD sees the quintet conjure yet another milestone in audial angst and melancholy with this much-anticipated follow-up to 2009's inspired and acclaimed
"Night Is The New Day".
"Dead End Kings", which features a guest appearance by Norwegian singer
Silje Wergeland (
THE GATHERING), was recorded at
Ghost Ward Studios and
The City Of Glass, and was produced by
KATATONIA's own
Anders Nyström and
Jonas Renkse, and mixed by
David Castillo, known for his prior work with
KATATONIA, as well as
OPETH and
BLOODBATH. The album marks the recording debut of
KATATONIA guitarist
Per Eriksson and bassist
Niklas Sandin. Additionally,
KATATONIA was joined once again by Frank Default and his invaluable expertise on sampling and atmospherics. The cover artwork was created by
KATATONIA's longtime visual collaborator
Travis Smith.
KATATONIA guitarist/co-founder
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström recently finished stripping down
"Dead End Kings" to an atmospheric sound devoid of any metal.
Says
Nyström: "Early on, we felt it was both peculiar and interesting how the songs could breathe on their own taking a different minimal approach, so we wanted to go back and explore this in a very spontaneous and unpretentious way. Vocals, keyboards and acoustic guitars are in and distorted guitars/bass and drums are out! Stay tuned for a release date!"
In other news,
Nyström will spend the next dew weeks "diggin' into old boxes and transferring ancient VHS cassettes and DV tapes to digital media, so we can finally get goin' on the actual edit on the documentary that will hopefully wrap up the anniversary DVD that's been taken forever!"
KATATONIA's upcoming DVD is expected to contain professionally filmed video footage of the band's May 6, 2011 concert at Koko in London, England.
