Search - Katatonia :: Discouraged Ones

The deepest and most emotional dark rock album of the 90ies

John William Daly (daly@uni-muenste | Muenster, Germany | 07/14/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'not close enough for you/ to hear a breath or steal a sigh/ but just close enough for me/ to take a step and pass you by', 'Nerve'.I bought this album two months ago, in the midst of an emotional crisis. The music delivered the perfect soundtrack. Katatonia's 'Discouraged Ones' was album of the month in two of the leading european underground magazines. This is not the sound of grand gothic tragedy. This is the sound of denial, isolation, emotional decay and discouragement, as was fittingly stated. I myself have never encountered a band which managed to create such a sound and atmosphere with guitars only. It is full of emotional suffering and misery, yet it is intense and powerful at the same time. The singer sometimes sounds like The Cure's frontman Robert Smith, and the texts fall in the same category as those of Joy Division, although less cryptical. Take this excerpt from the last song on the album, 'Distrust': 'I want to be forgotten/ I want you to forgive/ ! ! how I'm losing all this/ it's just the way I live' The music itself is an intriguing mixture of alternative, doom, a bit of goth rock and a small amount of grunge. The songs are structured in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner, as the impact of the music and the sound demand no complicated song-writing. The accompanying booklet has all the texts within, and the artwork is of high quality and is most fitting. It is not an album for shiny, happy people or music to listen to whilst doing the dishes. Far more it is a most rewarding album for friends of earnest music and for people of deep emotions. The album is a statement from the depressive downside of 90ies zeitgeist. It made my heart throb and the hair on my neck stand up. If you love The Cure and Joy Division and are looking for something equal to these groups in a contemperary style, then Katatonia are the best choice. This band has the potential to be the next big thing in the underground."

Depression at it's best

Metal Lover | Nowhere | 05/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frankly i have to say this is one of the best cd's i heard in my life....
but you know what was the surprise?the atmosphere....many bands try to make difficult arrangements,complex keyboard,and haunting female vocals to make a sad atmosphere and a dark feeling to their work...but Katatonia do the opposite on this album....so simple,but so goddam effective....it's one of the saddest albums i ever heard....they used to approach''less is more'' perfectly on this album....brillient....the vocals are working isolated somewhere between the claustrophobic guitar riff....seems like the singer has no hope when he sings....Jonas Renske is one very smart person indeed...
1.I Break-the album opener is certainly a stand out track....a very catchy chorus and a very catchy guitar riff....excellent 10/10
2.Stalemate-perhaps this track could be better or i have to listen more to it....still a great one..7/10
3.Deadhouse-perhaps the best song i ever heard..you can actually feel the guitars are crying on the chorus....a masterpiece 10/10
4.Relention-simple track,but another stand out...again the melodic guitar is outstanding and the chorus marks the listener...so simple,yet so emotional 10/10
5.Cold Ways-this track is pure depression....it gets better and better with every listen...and the chorus is very cool....the last two minutes are really breathtaking10/10
6.Gone-this track doesnt reaches 3 minutes...the title says it all...gone..that will this track leave in your head...why carring?all hope is lost 10/10
7.Last Resort..a more quiet track...a great chorus...you have to listen couple of times to reach it's message 9/10
8.Nerve..the chorus on this song leaves without comments,listen to it and you will know what i mean 10/10
9.Saw You Drown-the 'less is more' approach is excessuly used to make an outstanding track....a bleak 5 minutes journey 10/10
10.Instrumental-the title says it all....this little piece of guitar work leaves a monotone atmosphere while listening..very cool 10/10
11.Distrust-on the first riffs this track reflects the sadness that this ending track has making it a standout 10/10well this album is for anybody who wanna feel darkness...it takes some time but once you connect with the tracks it will mark anybody..."

Katatonia's brave departure

Hans Gruber | AZ | 03/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having already established themselves at the forefront of Sweden's rising doom-metal scene alongside contenders such as Paradise Lost and Anathema, Katatonia had defined all albums prior to Discouraged Ones with sludge-like, yet driving metal rhythms and the tortured wails of vocalist/drummer Jonas Renske. Yet after growing tired of the scene they were performing in, Katatonia risked alienating their entire fanbase at the expense of music which came off not quite as brutal. This album is probably the smartest decision in Katatonia's career up to this point, and would be the future reference of the new sound of Katatonia, one employing clean vocals, more interesting musical ideas, and overall just better production and music.



Discouraged One lacks any rhythmic complicity, with every song being played in standard 4/4 time, set up in verse/chorus/verse structures, and every chorus depending on simple barre chord strumming patterns. But complex rhythm changes would not be a primary focus for this dark Swedish outfit until Last Fair Deal Gone Down and Viva Emptiness. What Discouraged Ones is concerned with is building a unique and gloomy atmosphere, focusing more on Jonas Renske' newfound vocal style and overly depressing lyrics. This is perfect music for a cold autumn night by the fire, pondering regrets and lamenting lost loved ones.



Just about every track will sound almost identical to the untrained ear on the first few listens, but once the album is given time the subtle differences start to appear and the beauty of this recording really starts to stand out. Of note is the track "Saw You Drown", which lyrically depicts a tormented man drowning his unsuspecting lover, as well as the appropriately titled "Instrumental", which shows that guitarist Anders Nystrom can actually play fast and hold an interesting solo over beautiful mellotron voicings. Technically it's not the best Katatonia album, but atmospherically it cannot be beat."