Swedish KATATONIA has issued the following update on band’s Official Webpage:

This week Katatonia entered the worldwide charts with their new album, Dead End Kings!

Guitarist Anders Nyström comments: “People might think only the biggest artists, or the latest, hyped and most commercial music only lands on the actual album charts, but it seems five miserable Swedes just destroyed that fact. Bottom line is that all charts are based on actual album sales, nothing more, nothing less, so this simply proves that Katatonia got a loyal following, that positively still in today’s climate, are determined to buy our albums. In our turn, albums, that are again despite today’s climate, still built on music prior other aspects, so it’s pretty glorious really! THANK YOU for supporting Katatonia! We’re proud to be more than a just scribble in the margins of your lives. Long live the dead end king!”

Following are worldwide debuting chart entries for Dead End Kings:

• Finland #4
• Sweden #12
• Norway #17
• Germany #21
• Austria #25
• The Netherlands #60
• Switzerland #46
• Canada #23 Indie, #14 Hard Rock
• USA #4 Heatseekers, #138 Billboard Top 200, #10 Hard Rock
• UK #17 Independent chart, #1 Independent Breakers chart, #11 Rock & Metal chart

“Dead Letters” lyric video:

“Dead End Kings”, the ninth album from Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA, sold 3,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 138 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 4 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

“Dead End Kings” was released on August 28 (one day earlier internationally) via Peaceville Records. Containing some of KATATONIA‘s most poignant and ambitious material to date, the CD sees the quintet conjure yet another milestone in audial angst and melancholy with this much-anticipated follow-up to 2009’s inspired and acclaimed “Night Is The New Day”.

“Dead End Kings”, which features a guest appearance by Norwegian singer Silje Wergeland (THE GATHERING), was recorded at Ghost Ward Studios and The City Of Glass, and was produced by KATATONIA‘s own Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse, and mixed by David Castillo, known for his prior work with KATATONIA, as well as OPETH and BLOODBATH.

The album marks the recording debut of KATATONIA guitarist Per Eriksson and bassist Niklas Sandin. Additionally, KATATONIA was joined once again by Frank Default and his invaluable expertise on sampling and atmospherics. The cover artwork was created by KATATONIA‘s longtime visual collaborator Travis Smith.

“Dead End Kings” track listing:

01. The Parting
02. The One You Are Looking for is Not Here
03. Hypnone
04. The Racing Heart
05. Buildings
06. Leech
07. Ambitions
08. Undo You
09. Lethean
10. First Prayer
11. Dead Letters

KATATONIA hit the road last night in support of “Dead End Kings” as part of a co-headlining tour, “Epic Kings & Idols”, with the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT. The 18-city trek also features PARADISE LOST and STOLEN BABIES.

“Dead Letters” lyric video:

Source: Blabbermouth.net

RockNLive.org recently conducted an interview with vocalist Jonas Renkse of Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA. You can now watch the chat below.

KATATONIA‘s new album, “Dead End Kings”, is scheduled for release on August 28 (one day earlier internationally) via Peaceville Records. The CD, which will feature a guest appearance by Norwegian singer Silje Wergeland (THE GATHERING), was recorded over a two-month period at Stockholm’s Ghost Ward studios and the band’s new, as-yet-unnamed headquarters. David Castillo returned to “twiddle the knobs,” while band co-founders Anders “Blakkheim” Nyström and Jonas Renkse handled the rest of the production duties.

“Dead End Kings” track listing:

01. The Parting
02. The One You Are Looking for is Not Here
03. Hypnone
04. The Racing Heart
05. Buildings
06. Leech
07. Ambitions
08. Undo You
09. Lethean
10. First Prayer
11. Dead Letters

“Dead Letters” lyric video:

Source: Blabbermouth.net

PEACEVILLE has issued the following:

Katatonia, the Swedish purveyors of dark rock/metal, have announced that their ninth studio album, due August 27^th (August 28^th North America) on Peaceville Records, will be entitled ‘Dead End Kings’. A continuation of 2009’s inspired & acclaimed ‘Night is the New Day’, as well as a leap forward into the unknown, ‘Dead End Kings’ sees the quintet conjure yet another milestone in audial melancholy & angst.

Amongst their most poignant & ambitious material to date, ‘Dead End Kings’ was recorded at Ghost Ward Studios & The City Of Glass. The album was produced by Anders Nyström & Jonas Renkse themselves, & mixed by David Castillo, known for his prior work with the band, as well as Opeth & Bloodbath.
‘Dead End Kings’ sees the recording debut of guitarist Per Eriksson for Katatonia, as well as recent bassist Niklas Sandin. Additionally, Katatonia is joined once again by Frank Default & his invaluable expertise on sampling & atmospherics, plus a special guest appearance by Norwegian vocalist Silje Wergeland of Dutch legends The Gathering/ex-Octavia Sperati.

‘Jonas (vocals) comments on the album title:
“DEAD END KINGS is about the corridors of our mind from where there is no return. Be a king or queen in your own right in these hallways, even at the dead end. Carry your burden with pride. That’s what we are doing, twenty years and counting. Kings, because we believe in what we are creating, in our own disturbing faith”. 

Anders (Guitars):
“This album has doors revolving into many different genres of music but remain disguised within the Katatonia trademark. We have walked the fine line between attempting not to repeat ourselves but also not to distance us away from what people know and love. We’re now ready to hand over the evidence and whatever the direction this has taken is now for you to decide. We’re confident the creativity and passion on this album is something that will be echoing even beyond the dead end”.
Artwork is once more supplied by long-time visual collaborator Travis Smith.

Tracklisting for ‘Dead End Kings’ (not in final running order)

THE PARTING

HYPNONE

UNDO YOU

THE RACING HEART

BUILDINGS

LEECH

THE ONE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS NOT HERE (with Silje Wergeland)

FIRST PRAYER

AMBITIONS

LETHEAN

DEAD LETTERS