''Kocytean'' is the ninth EP by Swedish heavy metal band

Katatonia Katatonia are a Swedish heavy metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. The band started as a studio-only project for the duo, as an outlet for the band's love of death metal. Increasing popularity led them to ...

. The album was released on April 19, 2014, as part of the 2014 iteration of

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. The release consists of a collection of six

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

songs from their prior three albums at the time – ''

The Great Cold Distance ''The Great Cold Distance'' is the seventh full-length album by Swedish heavy metal band Katatonia, released on 13 March 2006. The album was recorded and mixed at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro between May and August 2005. Release ...

'' (2006), ''

Night is the New Day ''Night Is the New Day'' is Katatonia's eighth full-length album. It was released 2 November 2009, in Europe and 10 November 2009, in North America through Peaceville Records. Thirteen tracks were recorded, eleven of which made it onto the record ...

'' (2009), and ''

Dead End Kings ''Dead End Kings'' is Katatonia's ninth full-length album. It was released on 27 August 2012 in Europe and 28 August in the United States through Peaceville Records. Like all Katatonia releases, the album was written primarily by founding members ...

'' (2012). While given a limited release, it was still generally praised by critics.

Background and release

The ''Kocytean'' EP was compiled and released for the 2014 iteration of

, a yearly event where bands create a limited edition physical publication specifically for issue under a

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dedicated to releasing music. The releases consists of six tracks, featuring two

songs each from each of their last three studio albums at the time. The tracks "Unfurl" and "Code Against the Code" originate from ''

'' sessions, "Sold Heart" and "Ashen" originate from the ''

'' sessions," and "Second" and "The Act of Darkening" originate from the ''

'' sessions. The release features album artwork from Travis Smith, who had previously created cover art for the band. The EP was released just before the band embarked on the "Unplugged & Reworked Tour", which was in support of the just prior released '' Dethroned & Uncrowned'' – an acoustic re-recording of their ninth album ''Dead End Kings'' – something journalists felt ''Kocytean'' was an extension considering the more mellow nature of several of the EP's tracks.

Critical reception

The album was generally well-received by critics. ''Dead Press UK'' praised the album's similar sound to ''Dethroned & Uncrowned'', concluding that "Despite these tracks being taken from a whole host of Katatonia‘s previous albums, each one maintains the same spark of brilliance....it’s evident that a great deal of consideration goes into producing these highly intelligent and stirring songs. Whether you’re doing some soul searching or need a thought-provoking soundtrack to a gloomy winter day, ''Kocytean'' is a good place to start." The ''

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'' staff review praised the lyrics and elaborate sound, concluding that "As the tracks are rare and B-sides you may already own several of them if you are a big fan of the band, and that may be discouraging, but I honestly feel like this is a worthwhile release."

Track list

Personnel

;Band *

Jonas Renkse Jonas may refer to: Geography * Jonas, Netherlands, Netherlands * Jonas, Pennsylvania, United States * Jonas Ridge, North Carolina, United States People with the name * Jonas (name), people with the given name or surname Jonas * Jonas, one of ...

– vocals *

Anders Nyström Anders Nyström (born 22 April 1975), also known as Blakkheim (or formerly Blackheim), is a Swedish musician. Biography Nyström founded the Swedish metal band Katatonia with singer Jonas Renkse in 1991. Nyström is involved in the songwriti ...

– lead guitar *Daniel Liljekvist – drums *Fredrik Norrman – guitar *Mattias Norrman – bass guitar *Per Eriksson – guitar *Niklas Sandin – bass guitar

References

External links

{{Authority control Katatonia EPs 2014 EPs