Metal music has been constantly evolving since the days of the Big 4. Today, it has emerged as one of the most prominent genres in contemporary music. Over the decades metal has given rise to various sub-genres including thrash, doom, folk, grind, melodic, post, core, and progressive. Furthermore, the list keeps increasing as musicians continue to experiment with their artistic vision.
March 2023 marks the month when two prominent Swedish metal acts share an anniversary for two of their most successful full-length records. Namely, heavy-metal giants Katatonia and progressive metal pioneers Opeth.
17 years of The Great Cold Distance
Katatonia is celebrating 17 years of their seventh LP The Great Cold Distance. The album, released via Peaceville Records in March 13 2006, marked a revolutionary moment in audio production history as it was one of the first metal albums to be re-released a year later in 5.1 surround sound. The Great Cold Distance was critically acclaimed for songwriting and was listed at number 8 on PopMatters’ list of the Top Metal Albums of 2006. Founded in 1991 by Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse in Stockholm. The band initially began as a duo’s studio-only endeavor. Since then, Katatonia has released 12 studio albums, 5 live albums, 5 compilation albums, 8 EPs, and 16 singles.
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22 years of Blackwater Park
Swedish prog-metal pros Opeth simultaneously are celebrating the 22nd anniversary of their iconic record Blackwater Park. The fifth full-length studio record was released on March 12 2001 through Music for Nations and Koch Records. Blackwater Park set new heights for progressive death metal. The album also featured ideas from Porcupine Tree front man Steven Wilson. The album received global critical acclaim upon its release with it being listed as the number-one progressive metal album of all time by Loudwire in 2020. Co-founded by vocalist David Isberg and bassist Mikael Åkerfeldt in 1990, Opeth has released 13 studio albums, 4 live albums, 3 box sets, 3 video albums and 17 singles.
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An entity of flesh and bones in pursuit of becoming a higher being. A connoisseur of the mystic arts and everything musical. His origins are unknown, and so are his true motives.
