Live Review: Katatonia, The Roadmender, Northampton

Katatonia and Cobra The Impaler

The Roadmender, Northampton

01/11/2024

A neat, medium sized venue that sits in the heart of Northampton, The Roadmender is a criminally underutilised asset. It should really have events on every night like an O2 Academy, yet its patchy calendar finds it sitting empty most evenings. That’s a shame because as tonight’s large crowd attests, there’s a real hunger in the town for live music, so hopefully this’ll be a turning point, and the venue owners will raise their game.

Appearing like a viper springing from its coil, Cobra The Impaler appear without warning, and they are all the more powerful for it. With each band member attired in black, the band attack as one with a ferocious twin guitar assault, a formidable rhythm section and a vocalist who sings every syllable with emotion etched on his face, theirs is a sound not for the weak of constitution. Something magical happens when they all lock in together and deliver an earthshaking sound that could shift tectonic plates. It’s the first time for many witnessing Cobra The Impaler live, but on the strength of this performance, it won’t be the last.

As Katatonia hurtle along the highway towards their 35th anniversary, they’re showing no signs of slowing down and the restless spirit that has seen them evolve from their early forays in death metal into progressive territory is very much in evidence tonight. It’s a track from latest album, Sky Void Of Stars, that kicks things off and ‘Austerity’ finds the band bang on point; there’s no time for fancy introductions, just a crashing power chord, a thunderous drum roll and the band are off, doing what they do best, namely delivering their deliciously dark brand of metal with a sound that’s shaded in glorious monochrome. That they remain an unstoppable force becomes apparent when the technical issues that curtail ‘Criminals’ briefly halt their progress, before they power forth with ‘My Twin’. Returning for two well deserved encores ensures this’ll be one unforgettable night.

Review by Peter Dennis.