Sweden's Katatonia is one of my metal groups of choice. They've got a great vibe, with a sound that can be really mellow while still hanging on to a depth that is rare to find in other bands. Over the past year-and-a-half, I've waded backwards through their discography. And, for or the most part, I've really enjoyed what I've came across. The Great Cold Distance is eclectic, interesting, and dynamic, and releases like Viva Emptiness combine memorable riffs and inescapable hooks with lovely vocals.

So, you can imagine my happiness when I encountered Discouraged Ones not too long ago. I knew it featured "Saw You Drown," a grim, trippy, slow-rocking song with great emphasis on Jonas Renkse's smooth, gentle vocals. What I didn't know is that "Saw You Drown" is one of very few worthwhile moments I would find throughout my Discouraged Ones experience.

The funny thing? As mediocre as I find this release to be, there's not a single moment where I find myself going, 'Oh, wow, this sucks.' Not even close. The problem lies in the oh-so-seldom times I find myself amazed by the music. I have high standards for Katatonia, so I admit there may be a slight bias here, but forgive me, for I must declare that 90% of the Discouraged Ones material bleeds together. So much of it just has no passion, and instrumentally, it's basically all the same.

"I Break" instantly prepares the listener for what will be endured for the following 46 minutes and 57 seconds. It recycles a plodding, faded guitar riff with Renkse's plaintive vocals and pessimistic lyrics. Truthfully, it's far too often a chore to distinguish one song from the next. Believe me when I say that of all the albums I've ever owned, this one has the most 'samey' vibe. Obviously it's far from the worst album I own; I just would love for it to be a bit more diverse.

Despite the opening of "Deadhouse" being interchangeable with that of "I Break," this song actually sets itself apart with an intriguing chorus and some lovely guitar wailing courtesy of Anders Nystrom. This song carries a strong sense of apathy, which gives it points because unlike most of its sibling material, it showcases some kind of statement. Similarly, "Nerve" fuses two lines of streaming Renkse-vox together to concoct something worth sitting up straight and paying attention to. Sadly, the goodness doesn't last long, as "Cold Ways" clearly demonstrates that it isn't much more than a watered-down reprise of the already mundane "I Break".

I should note that prior to Discouraged Ones, Renkse had not experimented much with clean, melodic vocals (in earlier Katatonia albums, he screamed, shrieked and roared). I should also note that it's painfully obvious. Renkse frequently sounds strained and shrill in these songs, which is unusual for an otherwise outstanding singer. Thankfully, his melodic vocals have improved tremendously since this 1998 release.

Katatonia can do so much better than what is shown on Discouraged Ones. I fear that people may be deceived by the impression they get of the band solely from this release. As I mentioned previously, the music here isn't so much awful as it is boring and unimpressive. Too much of it bleeds together, and while I'm not saying that constant, bold versatility always ensures quality music, lines have to be drawn somewhere. The combination of Renkse's subpar vocals and the equally subpar instrumentation make Discouraged Ones, one to skip. Rock and metal fans who dig an ambient, depressing sound should be sure to look into other Katatonia releases, though, as they're a fantastic band aside from this disappointing release.

Related Works:
Viva Emptiness - Katatonia
Brave Yester Days - Katatonia
The Great Cold Distance - Katatonia



Recommended: No