Katatonia Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State
Katatonia's Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State refines the band's reflective melancholy into a sometimes-fragmented but frequently compelling sequence of nocturnal vignettes, and the critical consensus suggests it mostly succeeds. Across five professional reviews the record earned a 70/100 consensus score, wi
“Thrice” is the best song because it immediately showcases the new guitarists with a compelling contrast of chaos and delicacy anchored by Renkse’s vocals.
Departure Trails is the best song because its reflective, soothing nature suits Jonas Renkse’s understated vocals.
Best for listeners looking for gothic atmosphere and melancholy, starting with Thrice and Wind of no Change.
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Full consensus notes
Katatonia's Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State refines the band's reflective melancholy into a sometimes-fragmented but frequently compelling sequence of nocturnal vignettes, and the critical consensus suggests it mostly succeeds. Across five professional reviews the record earned a 70/100 consensus score, with critics praising its gothic atmosphere, guitar-centric arrangements, and Jonas Renkse's velvety vocal presence while noting that sectional collage and a lineup transition leave moments that feel disjointed.
Reviewers consistently flag opener “Thrice” as a standout - its dramatic progressions and collage-like surprises function as an early thesis statement - while “Wind of No Change”, “The Liquid Eye” and “The Light Which I Bleed” recur as the best songs on the album for combining memorable riffs, stadium-sized choruses, and textural restraint. Critics from Distorted Sound and Metal Sucks applaud the album's experimental turns and layered arpeggios, Kerrang! and Blabbermouth emphasize the soothing, reflective pieces such as “Departure Trails”, and Angry Metal Guy highlights the record's clearer, arena-ready refrains.
Taken together the reviews reveal a band balancing progressive experimentation and melancholic core identity - some critics celebrate the evolution and fresh guitar duo contributions, while others find the collage approach sacrifices cohesion. As a critical snapshot, the consensus score and repeated praise for specific tracks indicate that Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State is worth attention for fans seeking Katatonia's darker, more exploratory side, and it sets up an engaging contrast between nocturnal gloom and occasional hints of uplift in the band's catalog.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Thrice
5 mentions
"heavy opener “Thrice” finds Elgstrand and Svalland juxtaposing chaotic guitar riffs and delicate six-string tapestries"— Metal Sucks
Wind of no Change
5 mentions
"Wind of No Change” is pointedly ominous due to both its satanic allusions and lusciously medieval chants"— Metal Sucks
The Liquid Eye
5 mentions
"opening track Thrice packs plenty of drama into its progressions, as does its immediate successor The Liquid Eye."— Kerrang!
the keyboard-focused nuances and overarching gentleness of “Departure Trails,” “Warden,” and “Efter Solen” (which take listeners on especially beautiful and tragic rides, with the latter tune incorporating digital percussion)
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Thrice
The Liquid Eye
Wind of no Change
Lilac
Temporal
Departure Trails
Warden
The Light Which I Bleed
Efter Solen
In the Event of
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 7 critics who reviewed this album
Me
Critic's Take
Katatonia’s Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State is another hauntingly decorated and tenderly tumultuous record, and the best songs - notably “Thrice” and “Wind of No Change” - showcase why the new guitar duo belongs in the band. The opener “Thrice” immediately verifies the lineup change, pairing chaotic riffs with delicate tapestries while Jonas Renkse’s chilling singing anchors it. Meanwhile “Wind of No Change” stands out for its ominous satanic allusions and lusciously medieval chants, giving the album an especially forbidding peak. Other highlights like “The Light Which I Bleed” and the gentle keyboard pieces “Departure Trails” and “Efter Solen” round out a record that keeps Katatonia’s sophisticated melancholy vividly alive.
Key Points
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“Thrice” is the best song because it immediately showcases the new guitarists with a compelling contrast of chaos and delicacy anchored by Renkse’s vocals.
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The album’s core strengths are its gothic atmosphere, sophisticated melancholy, and successful integration of a new guitar-centric lineup.
Themes
Bl
Critic's Take
Katatonia continue to trade in bleak atmospherics on Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, and the best songs here are plainly "Lilac", "Temporal" and the closing "In the Event of". The reviewer's voice celebrates curling, drifting verses in "Lilac" and the quick, effective lead of "Temporal", while noting the swooning, fully encapsulating sweep of "In the Event of" as emblematic of where the band are circa 2025. There is also praise for the opening trio - "Thrice", "The Liquid Eye" and "Wind of no Change" - for their burly riffs and pensive dropouts, which set the album's tone. Overall the best tracks on Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State are those that balance thick riffing with space and atmosphere, the songs that will likely stand out live and in retrospect.
Key Points
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"Lilac" is the best song because of its curling, drifting verses and live-staple potential.
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The album's core strengths are its atmosphere, space, and the balance of thick riffs with reflective passages.
Themes
Cl
Di
Critic's Take
Katatonia's Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State is at its best when it leans into collage-like surprises, with opener “Thrice” and lead single “Lilac” standing out for packing ideas and beautiful layered arpeggios. The reviewer relishes Jonas Renkse's velvet voice and the record's thick, crystal-clear production while noting the album's fragmentary transitions can frustrate recall. Fans searching for the best tracks on Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State will find that “Thrice”, “Lilac” and the Swedish-language “Efter Solen” best showcase the band's melancholic grandeur and experimental turns. Overall the tone is appreciative - praising ambition and musicianship while flagging that the collage approach sometimes costs cohesion.
Key Points
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The best song is the opener “Thrice”, for its instant switcheroo and concentrated ideas that reveal the album's collage approach.
Themes
Cl
Critic's Take
Katatonia have never been a band to simply revert to old habits, and on Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State the best tracks underline that steady, melancholic logic. Jonas Renkse’s voice is at its most suited to the reflective numbers, so it is the soothing, thoughtful pieces like “Departure Trails” and “Warden” that stand out as the album’s clearest strengths. Yet opener “Thrice” and its immediate successor “The Liquid Eye” pack drama into their progressions and make a persuasive case for being among the best songs on the record. The result is an album that nudges toward heft but ultimately remains firmly rooted in Katatonia’s considered, delicate sound.
Key Points
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Departure Trails is the best song because its reflective, soothing nature suits Jonas Renkse’s understated vocals.
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The album’s core strength is its considered, delicate sound that balances hints of heaviness with melancholic restraint.
Themes
An
Critic's Take
In a voice that still favors dusk and resignation, Katatonia deliver on Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State with moments that stick - chiefly “Wind of No Change” and the woozy “The Light Which I Bleed” emerge as the best songs on the album because they pair Renkse's slinky vocal hooks with stadium-minded choruses and memorable riffs. The record often trades invention for familiarity, so the best tracks are those that sharpen the band’s trademarks into singable, soaring refrains rather than diffuse experiments. If you search for the best tracks on Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, look to the arena-ready melodicism of “Wind of No Change” and the bouncing wah-chord hypnosis of “The Light Which I Bleed”, which together give the album its clearest sense of purpose.
Key Points
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The best song is "Wind of no Change" because it crystallizes Katatonia's arena-ready melodicism and slinky vocal hooks.
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The album’s core strengths are its melancholic atmosphere, strong choruses, and polished contemporary production.