Jonas Renkse, frontman and co-founder of Swedish metal band Katatonia, has spoken publicly about the recent separation from long-time guitarist and fellow founder Anders “Blakkheim” Nyström. In a new interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal’s Metal Global, Renkse offered insight into the significant lineup change.
While the news might have come as a surprise to many fans, Renkse confirmed that within the band’s inner circle, Nyström‘s departure had been anticipated. “It’s been on our radar for quite some time,” Renkse admitted. “To us it wasn’t really a surprise at all. It’s unfortunate things like that happen… Change, it happens to everything at some point. And this is just the way it is.”
Despite the obvious challenges of such a change, Renkse is choosing to focus on the positive aspects of their shared history. “But I usually think about it like I’m so happy that we had so much time together to do and create all these memories that we have that’s connected to the band and the things that we have achieved,” he reflected. “We had 30-plus years to do it, which is longer than most marriages probably. So, I try to look at it in a different light and try to see something positive coming out of it. So that’s the way, for me, how I’m dealing with it.”
Renkse made it clear that his passion for music remains undimmed, driving his desire to continue with Katatonia. “And the rest is just — I mean, I wanna continue making music. That’s my drive and I’m still hungry for it. It’s something that I — I invested so much time in my life to do it, and I’m in a place where I really like to be, so I just wanna go on.”
The frontman also alluded to the often-unseen demands of being in a touring band, suggesting these behind-the-scenes realities might have contributed to Nyström’s decision. “People probably don’t understand or have the capacities to see what’s going into being in a band,” he explained. “It’s a lot of work… If someone goes to a concert and sees the band perform — and this includes me as well, because when I see other bands perform, I think, ‘Wow, they have such a splendid life. They just go up there and play a show and that’s it. And then they have a bottle of champagne waiting for them.’ But it’s not always like that. That’s a rare occasion.”
This significant lineup change comes as Katatonia prepares to release their new album, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, which is set to arrive on June 6 via Napalm Records. The album will mark a new chapter for the band following Nyström’s departure, signaling their continued artistic journey despite personnel shifts. Fans will undoubtedly be keen to hear how these developments influence the band’s sound and future direction.
Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State tracklist:
- “Thrice”
- “The Liquid Eye”
- “Wind of no Change”
- “Lilac”
- “Temporal”
- “Departure Trails”
- “Warden”
- “The Light Which I Bleed”
- “Efter Solen”
- “In the Event of”
