Katatonia – Mnemosynean, 2xCD Mediabook

An extensive collection of rarities and B-sides marking 30 years of the enigmatic Dark Prog masters Katatonia. 

 

2CD in deluxe mediabook with artwork by Travis Smith, a band biography by Eleanor Goodman, full lyrics, and backgrounds to the songs provided by founding members Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse, along with other close Katatonia collaborators.

 

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 EP’s, unused album songs, limited special edition bonuses, cover songs, as well as a series of collaborative remixes. 

 

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The title Mnemosynean represents memories and 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). 

 

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).