Katatonia is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. Originally conceived as a studio project focused on death metal, their early years saw a shifting lineup of musicians, including Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth. After releasing two death/doom albums, the band evolved away from harsh vocals to embrace a more melodic and progressive rock sound. Throughout the 2000s, Katatonia stabilized as a quintet, releasing a series of acclaimed albums that gradually incorporated more progressive and atmospheric elements while retaining their dark, emotive style. Despite various lineup changes, Renkse and Nyström have been the consistent core of the band. Katatonia has continued to innovate and expand their sound across thirteen studio albums, from their heavy, early work to the more expansive approaches of recent releases such as City Burials, Sky Void of Stars, and Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State. The band is known for their moody, introspective music and their enduring influence in both the metal and progressive rock scenes.