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
Chrome
Katatonia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Different every second
My eyes are of chrome
It is television
Can't let go of my leg
It's itching and bleeding
Layer by layer
Burn down my house
And make something happen
Stab me in the heart
And make something stop
Cause I am so distracted
I am slightly shocked
By how things can keep going
Like a dead man's clock
A mirror is hanging
Kinda loose on my wall
I'm passing it sideways
I'm saying hello
My brother is halfways
Through a book I've left him
Called me today
To see what I'd say
The opening lines of "Chrome" describe a haunting scene of a room with walls painted in different colors constantly changing, and the singer's eyes presumably reflecting those colors because they are made of chrome. This creates a surreal atmosphere that continues throughout the song. The singer is unable to let go of their own leg, which is both itching and bleeding, suggesting a sense of discomfort, perhaps even self-harm. The peeling away of layers can be interpreted metaphorically as a search for a new identity or a way to escape one's current circumstances.
The next lines are somewhat shocking in their violence. The singer expresses a desire for their house to be burned down, as if they are hoping for something drastic to occur in their life. The plea to be stabbed in the heart is similarly extreme, and suggests a desire for the pain of their current reality to end. The singer is distracted and slightly shocked at the fact that life seems to keep moving forward despite their own feelings of stagnation. The metaphor of the clock that continues to tick despite the death of the person it once belonged to reinforces this idea.
The final lines reveal a brief moment of connection between the singer and someone else, as they greet their own reflection in a mirror and speak to their brother who has reached out to them. However, the phrase "halfways through a book I've left him" suggests that there is distance between them, both physically and emotionally. Overall, "Chrome" is a bleak and introspective song that explores themes of alienation, disconnection, and a desire for change.
Line by Line Meaning
The walls are painted
The surroundings constantly change, which keeps me from feeling settled.
Different every second
The change is continuous, making it difficult to adjust and cope.
My eyes are of chrome
I have become numb to the changes because I have been constantly exposed to it.
It is television
I am being bombarded with meaningless information, making it hard to concentrate.
Can't let go of my leg
I am feeling anxious and restless, and it's hard for me to relax.
It's itching and bleeding
The anxiety is taking a toll on me, and I am experiencing discomfort and pain.
Layer by layer
It's not just a physical discomfort, but also a mental one that's getting worse with time.
I'm peeling away
I am slowly deteriorating and losing myself in the process.
Burn down my house
The situation is so dire that drastic measures are necessary for change.
And make something happen
The stagnation needs to be remedied for things to improve.
Stab me in the heart
The pain I am experiencing is great, and I need a shock to get me out of my current state.
And make something stop
The constant turmoil is difficult to endure, and I need a break.
Cause I am so distracted
The current state of affairs is so overwhelming that I cannot stay focused on anything else.
I am slightly shocked
The sense of alienation, confusion, and anxiety is ever-present and unpredictable.
By how things can keep going
The relentless march of time, despite my own stagnation, is surprising.
Like a dead man's clock
The ticking of time feels pointless and hollow, echoing the emptiness I feel inside.
A mirror is hanging
I am reflecting on my own life and circumstances.
Kinda loose on my wall
The image I hold of myself is not stable or firm.
I'm passing it sideways
I am trying to avoid seeing myself for who I truly am.
I'm saying hello
I am acknowledging who I am and what I have become.
My brother is halfways
Someone close to me is struggling with similar issues to my own.
Through a book I've left him
I have attempted to help him in some way, but I'm not sure if it's been effective.
Called me today
He's reaching out for help and support.
To see what I'd say
He wants to know if I understand what he's going through and if I have any advice.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDERS NYSTROM, FREDRIK NORRMAN, JONAS PETTER RENKSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mert Kaan Türkyılmaz
duvarlar boyanır
her saniye farklı
gözlerim krom
bu televizyon
bacağımı bırakamam
bu kaşıntı ve kanama
katman katman
Soyuyorum
evimi yak
ve bir şeyler yap
beni kalbimde bıçakla
ve bir şeyler yap
çünkü çok dağınık
Biraz şok oldum
şimdiye kadar şeyler devam edebilir
ölü bir adamın saati gibi
bir ayna asılı
duvarımda biraz gevşek
Yanlara geçiyorum
Merhaba diyorum
kardeşim yarı yolda
onu bıraktığım bir kitapla
bugün beni aradı
ne diyeceğimi görmek için
toby56
I have no idea how I found out about this band, but this has been on of my favorite songs for the past 13 years.
Güneş Seyis
This song hits hard..
pure legend.
saveaworld9703
I found out through one of Century Media's "Identity" CD's... so glad I spent the $2 when those were released... discovered a ton of great bands thru those releases.
LateNightVoid
I love this song,fucking heavy !
Ultradeth
+toby56 Opeth
Rick Taylor
Probably kazaa
KirillDreamer
i'm in love with the riffs that are somewhere grunge-like, and this tragic sounding makes me not give a fuck about this cruel reality))) regards))) love this band
Ciezarowy
One of the greatests songs ever!
Koukouroukou
this is and forever will be my favourite Katatonia song
Lay you In
Koukouroukou 6 years later... It is my favorite as well.