Katatonia shares a special relationship with Finland. When they founded Katatonia in 1991, Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse (formerly known as Blakkheim and Lord Seth, respectively) probably did not guess that their most loyal fans would be found in the neighboring country in the east.

There is also something special in the band itself. They have walked their own path since the beginning, creating a unique blend of heaviness, melody and melancholy in their music.

Although the world of Katatonia is cold as the Scandinavian winter, the cold stayed away from the YleX stage on Saturday night. Rumours of Renkse’s stage fright and talks about the band’s wooden stage presence can be forgotten without a doubt. The gig was full of energy, and the band even seemed to be enjoying themselves. No additional stage props or posing was required; the music did the talking.

The set consisted mainly of songs from the three latest albums, but a few older songs were also heard. Biggest thrills for yours truly were brought by the song “Sweet Nurse”, from the album Last Fair Deal Gone Down, and the new single “Deliberation” from their new album, The Great Cold Distance.

It’s hard to summarise the feelings from the gig. The emotional charge was that great. Katatonia was the biggest and the most beautiful act on Saturday

Text: Hannu Romppainen

Translation: Jari Rytkönen

Pictures: Minna Veliheimo

16.07 2006 klo 17:34 - In English.