Katatonia is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. Initially conceived as a studio-only project focused on death metal, the band expanded to include additional members for live performances, with the lineup changing frequently during the 1990s. Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth was among the musicians involved during this period. Katatonia’s first two albums, "Dance of December Souls" (1993) and "Brave Murder Day" (1996), were rooted in death/doom metal. Vocal issues experienced by Renkse, along with new musical influences, led the band to transition toward a more melodic and progressive rock-oriented sound. The band released "Discouraged Ones" (1998) and "Tonight's Decision" (1999) before establishing a stable quintet lineup in the 2000s. This lineup produced "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" (2001), "Viva Emptiness" (2003), "The Great Cold Distance" (2006), and "Night Is the New Day" (2009), gradually incorporating progressive rock elements while moving away from traditional metal. Despite ongoing lineup changes in the 2010s, Renkse and Nyström remained consistent members. The band released their ninth and tenth albums, "Dead End Kings" (2012) and "The Fall of Hearts" (2016). Following touring for "The Fall of Hearts" in 2017, Katatonia entered a semi-hiatus in early 2018. They returned with "City Burials" (2020), followed by "Sky Void of Stars" (2023) and "Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State" (2025). Full Wikipedia article: