The band released two more albums, Discouraged Ones (1998) and Tonight's Decision (1999), before settling into a stable quintet lineup for all of the 2000s. The band released four more albums with said lineup: Last Fair Deal Gone Down (2001), Viva Emptiness (2003), The Great Cold Distance (2006) and Night Is the New Day (2009), with the band slowly moving away from their metal sound while adding more progressive rock sounds to their work over time. While lineup changes started up again into the 2010s, Renkse and Nyström persisted, and the band continued on to release their ninth and tenth studio albums, Dead End Kings (2012) and The Fall of Hearts (2016). After touring in support of the album through 2017, the band entered a hiatus at the beginning of 2018. The band returned from their hiatus in February 2019, with their eleventh studio album, City Burials, released in April 2020 and twelfth studio album, Sky Void of Stars (2023).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katatonia
Studio albums
Dance of December Souls (1993)
Brave Murder Day (1996)
Discouraged Ones (1998)
Tonight's Decision (1999)
Last Fair Deal Gone Down (2001)
Viva Emptiness (2003)
The Great Cold Distance (2006)
Night Is the New Day (2009)
Dead End Kings (2012)
The Fall of Hearts (2016)
City Burials (2020)
Sky Void of Stars (2023)
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Katatonia was a Polish death/thrash metal band. They released one demo, "It's Only a Dream", in 1993 before splitting up. See here: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Katatonia/55254
Burn the Remembrance
Katatonia Lyrics
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Is this the right time to set one free and go away
In the emptiness behind you I will walk about
Surely you'll miss me but long live the doubt
What will replace us
What will be our memory of this time
Second hand impressions
I remember one time when we were abroad
I was laughing at a book I had bought
But you were standing against the hotel wall
Frozen in an unknown thought
The lyrics to Katatonia's "Burn the Remembrance" seem to reflect on the nostalgia, uncertainty, and doubt that can come with the end of a relationship or the passing of time. The imagery of the "old light" and "new colours" in a picture that hangs in the night suggests a sense of time passing, while the question "Is this the right time to set one free and go away?" implies the end of something - a relationship, a friendship, or even life itself.
The singer seems to be reflecting on the memories of this time, wondering what will come after they are gone. They ask themselves "What will replace us?" and "What will be our memory of this time?" suggesting that they are uncertain of what the future holds. The line "Hand them over so we can let it die" seems to suggest a desire to let go of these memories and move on, perhaps to start anew.
The final stanza of the song offers a specific memory from the past - a trip abroad - but with a sense of detachment. The singer seems to recall a moment shared with someone, laughing at a book they had bought. But the other person is frozen in thought, their mind elsewhere. This image highlights the distance that can exist between people, even when they are physically present with each other.
Overall, "Burn the Remembrance" is a poignant reflection on the transitory nature of relationships and the passing of time, with a sense of both nostalgia and the desire to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Old light and new colours your picture hangs in the night
Your image from the past is now a memory that is clouded with new experiences.
Is this the right time to set one free and go away
Perhaps it's the ideal time to move on by releasing the one who has held on.
In the emptiness behind you I will walk about
I'll wander aimlessly in the void that you've left behind.
Surely you'll miss me but long live the doubt
You may feel a sense of longing, but it's better to be uncertain than to dwell on the past.
What will replace us
What will come in the aftermath of our departure?
What will be our memory of this time
What kind of lasting impression will we leave behind?
Second hand impressions
Our memories of what's gone by are not firsthand, but a reflection from a distance.
Hand them over so we can let it die
We'll need to relinquish these distant recollections if we want to move on completely.
I remember one time when we were abroad
There was a moment when we were away from home that I recall.
I was laughing at a book I had bought
While I was reading a book that amused me, I couldn't help but smile.
But you were standing against the hotel wall
You were a neutral observer, unresponsive and devoid of emotion.
Frozen in an unknown thought
In a moment of profound contemplation, you were lost in your own mind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDERS NYSTROM, JONAS PETTER RENKSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind