Echoes of Nightmares: Katatonia’s First Night in Sweden

Katatonia delivered a very impressive show in Gothenburg together with Evergrey and Klogr

The sold-out Pustervik was packed with fans wearing Evergrey and Katatonia shirts. For Katatonia, this was their first show of this tour in Sweden after several concerts in Finland and Norway. The band is currently promoting Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State. Following the departure of founder and guitarist Anders Nyström, Katatonia now performs with two new guitarists who bring not only fresh energy but also a renewed sonic character. The anticipation was high and the crowd eagerly awaited their arrival.

After a short intro, the band came on stage and launched into the opening song Thrice with full force, only for it to be abruptly cut off less than a minute in. A technical issue threw the performance off track. The band crew reacted quickly and discovered that a part of the backline might have been damaged. The audience waited almost half an hour for the issue to be resolved, but the patience paid off.

Soil’s Song came next, followed by Rain. With each track, you could feel the band’s remarkable evolution. Katatonia never stop exploring new artistic dimensions or surprising their listeners. The setlist also included standout older tracks such as Nephilim, a personal doom favorite of mine, alongside The Longest Year, July, and Dead Letters. It was a strong balance between classic material and newer songs that lean toward a more progressive sound while still preserving Katatonia’s signature atmosphere.

Many fans were hoping to hear My Twin, which didn’t appear on the setlist, something I actually appreciated. It doesn’t always need to be the same hit, Katatonia have plenty to choose from. Personally, I missed a few old-school tracks from Viva Emptiness or Tonight’s Music. It would have been interesting to hear how those songs translate with the new lineup. In my opinion, the new formation did an excellent job, a clean, solid performance with more clarity than before. The two new guitarists appear to be using an entirely new setup, which made a noticeable difference, adding more impact and richness to the live sound.

Despite the technical issues at the beginning of the night, Katatonia delivered a powerful and passionate performance, reminiscent of their strongest years. For me, Katatonia remains a band that continues to redefine the genre, time and time again.

KLOGR

EVERGREY

KATATONIA