Discouraged Ones [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

'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.

I have to agree with many of the other reviewers; at the heart of this album's appeal is it's simplicity. Some of the rythm guitar is incredibly basic alternating between a few chords. The song writing is simple and verse/chorus based for the most part. These things are easy to communicate but what cannot be effectively communicated in writing is the incredible atmosphere of this CD.
Katatonia's previous release "Brave Murder Day" was a wonderfully dirgy Doom Metal album. On this album the band have taken some of that style as an influenced and mixed it with alt-rock to produce a sound remniscent of many 80s goth bands.
There is nothing particularly mindblowing about any of the instrumental performances, although the ghostly lead guitar and detuned rythm guitar are key to the band's sound. The performance that is truly breathtaking is Jonas Renske's vocal performance. On many of the songs different tones of the same lines are mixed to procude a haunting sound. Just listen to the second chorus on "nerve". On the final track, "ditrust" Renske seems gripped by hopelessness, as if he were a man looking back on a wasted life from his death bed. The words sound as if they are barely making it out of his lips. Make no mistake, this is an unforgettable vocal performance.
The album is predictably depressing and saying that alone should dictate whether or not you would be interested in this album. Don't expect flashy technique and adventurous song writing. Just expect an utterly gloomy yet incredibly beautiful listening experience.

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 10/10

well this album is for anybody who wanna feel darkness...it takes some time but once you connect with the tracks it will mark anybody...