Katatonia returns to Brazil to present the Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State , with a show scheduled for March 21, 2026, at Cine Joia in São Paulo . Known for defying labels for over three decades, the Swedish band has consolidated a loyal fan base in the country and promises a repertoire that mixes tracks never before released in Brazil with classics.
The show promotes the new album Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State , marking another chapter in the creative reinvention of the group led by Jonas Renkse . The 13th album of their career balances heaviness, melancholy and experimentation, focusing on guitars and the new lineup, which includes guitarists Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.
In an interview with Wikimetal , guitarist Nico Elgstrand talked about the show in Brazil, his journey in the Swedish scene, Katatonia's new album, and Swedish metal bands.
Expectations for the show in Brazil
Wikimetal: You performed with Katatonia in Brazil in 2024, how are you feeling about returning to the country?
Nico Elgstrand : I really love all the countries in South America. I have friends from Brazil. So, every time I go there, the food is amazing, the people are fantastic. And now it's much warmer than here, so it's going to be really nice.
WM: Are there any Brazilian bands that you like, regardless of style?
NE : Sure. I'm trying to remember. Whenever I'm asked what I like, my mind just freezes… I went to the gym and just listened to “Roots Bloody Roots,” which is, I'd say, my favorite Sepultura , but in other bands… I know there's at least one other band from Brazil that I like…
WK: Sarcophagus?
NE : Yeah, there you go! That's pretty old school. I like it. It's very good.
WM: In a career marked by different phases of Swedish metal, does playing in South America represent something symbolic for you?
NE: I don't really care much about symbolism. I really enjoy it a lot. The food is great, the people are great, and the shows are always fantastic, so…
WM: What can we expect from this new show in Brazil?
NE: Good energy, I think that's what the band has right now. I mean, Sebastian and I are relatively new. We're not new, but it's been about two or three years for me and one for him. So, it always takes a while for everyone to gel. But I think the energy is really good because we are… It's always like that when someone new joins a band. It's like everyone gets a new spark of energy. So, I think we received it, at least, on the last tour. After that, we can all say that, yes, it's getting better. So, they can expect the same, only better.
Musical trajectory and influences
WM: Your career includes stints with bands like Entombed and Entombed AD, as well as other projects in the Swedish scene. How have these experiences shaped your identity as a guitarist?
NE: I try not to think about it. You know what I mean? I really feel very blessed to play with such good bands. And it's very challenging and rewarding at the same time. But, I mean, it's not for me to say how it affected my development, if it affected it at all. You know, I try not to think too much, just feel and move on. I think that, after so many years on tour, you learn a lot, especially about your musicality and what you like. So, I think I'm trying to remember who I was about 20 years ago. That guy thought he knew everything, but he knew nothing. So, it's good to at least think that you're wiser and older.
WM: Before becoming the official guitarist for Katatonia, you were already playing live with them. How did the invitation to join the band come about?
NE: It was great. After I joined, we had a one-off show in Australia and then a tour. I think we all felt that because we were having so much fun together and, ultimately, the most important thing in a band is how you interact, how much fun you have together, because 99% of the time you're just going to be sitting in a room talking nonsense. So, we had a lot of fun. In the end, I wasn't at all surprised when the question came: "Do you want to join full-time?" It was a good feeling, it's like when you're with a girl or something and everything is great. There are things you don't need to say. It's like you. You feel it and you know, things are going well. So it was one of those things where I was almost certain that, yeah, I'd probably join that band because we were having so much fun.
WM: Katatonia's sound has changed a lot over the years, and the new album Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State shows a sound unlike any other. How did you contribute to this album?
NE : We just collaborated. We talked and played music and kind of influenced each other without trying to influence. And I think as soon as you start thinking things like, “Okay, now I’m going to make a reggae album,” it’s never good. But it was really cool to discover that Jonas and I have… I think I thought I had a pretty peculiar taste in music and… We’re very similar in many peculiar musical styles. So, that’s amazing. It was really good to find a kindred spirit not in metal, but in various other types of strange music that I thought only I liked. And then he said, “Oh no, I like that too.”
I think you don't consciously influence it. You just enjoy and listen to music. And that shapes you. So, when I play and when we play together, I try not to switch my brain off as quickly as possible. It's very difficult because the brain wants to, like, "yeah, let's play, blah, blah, blah." It keeps thinking, like, "let's make this list of recipes." It's like when you cook, switch off, and just taste it, "wow, this is great." And then, what's inside? I have no idea. Spices and food. The less you think and the less you follow a recipe, the greater the chance of something interesting emerging. So that's it. I think that's how the influence on my part manifested itself.
WM: Comparing your time in Entombed, marked by straightforward riffs and raw energy, with Katatonia, which explores nuances and atmospheres, where do you feel more artistically challenged?
NE: It's just different, I think. I mean, because I played in Entombed for a long time. So, at the beginning, I thought, "I can't do it. This is impossible." And, after 15 years, it's like, "Yeah, maybe I can." At the beginning, with Katatonia, forget it. I thought, "I can't. It's too difficult." But now I think, "Yeah, man, maybe I can." So, I think the challenges are very different and none is easier than the other. I mean, I'd say that, in Entombed, it's practically all in four-beat rhythm. So, it's like it's in your backbone, you'll always find your soul there.
If you get lost with Katatonia, you really get lost, because it changes. And I find that really fun because you always have to be alert. It's like if you mess up somewhere, it's going to take a long time to get back on track. So I think that's really more challenging. And also, I haven't done this in a long time. We call it math metal when it's not 1, 2, 3, 4, it's like Tool or any other band. Bands that are exploring different time signatures and things like that. I think it's super cool to do new things. So now it's not so new, but for at least a year, I was thinking, "Man, I can't do this. I hope they don't know about it."
WM: What's your favorite Katatonia album and why?
NE: That's difficult. And it always changes. But I think even now… Skyboy of Stars (2023). I think it's fantastic. The old ones… If you listen to something for a long time, I usually put it on the shelf and then listen to it again. And even when you listen to it again, it's only a couple of times and then… I think it's because Skyboy of Stars was the last one before I joined. When you make an album, you never listen to it. At least I don't. I never listen to it afterwards because it's like… So, Skyboy of Stars is still on my playlists.
There are so many… And there are tracks here and there. Nowadays, I don't listen to that many albums. We make playlists, listen to a few songs and then change. I don't even have a record player anymore, so I think the era of listening to entire albums is over for me. But if I had to name one, and even after playing songs from it, I still find it interesting to listen to [ Skyboy of Stars ]. So, it's a great album.
Top 5 Swedish bands
WM: Sweden is famous for launching many rock and metal bands, from Bathory to Ghost. Can you tell me your top 5 Swedish bands?
NE: You mentioned Ghost , the album Meliora (2015)… I think Ghost, for me, is such a cool hybrid. They opened for Entombed. I don't know how many years ago that was, many years ago. And I was like, “What band is this?” And I remember they were playing “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles , which is a very cheerful song, but they played it in a minor key instead of a major key because they were ghouls and they weren't happy at all because the sun was coming out. And I thought, “Man, this band is amazing.” And then, poof! But I heard Meliora and it was like, “Wow!”
I really like them. Opeth , of course, too. It's kind of like they're friends. When you meet someone, you tend to like their work more. But both bands are fantastic. Oh my god, there are so many bands like Candlemass , obviously. Oh my god, I can't even think of who I should mention. You helped me with Sarcófago. And now there are millions of bands I can't remember. And when we hang up, I'll be thinking: "Oh my god, I should have said that. Blah, blah, blah."
WK: Europe?
NE: This is kind of an old memory. It's more like childhood memories, from when I was a teenager. But of course, I mean, they're fantastic. It's not like I actively listen to Europe nowadays, but I love them, it's more of a memory.
WK: And I really like ABBA.
NE: Wow. Are you kidding? ABBA is… Every time I hear it, I still think, “How is that possible?” It’s an incredible musical feat. In terms of songwriting, it’s impressive. It’s been so long and everyone keeps playing it. It’s everywhere. You should be really tired of it, I’m really tired of how commercial it is. But it’s still amazing, every song is simply incredible. This is probably the best Swedish band of all time. If you have to choose one, ABBA rocks.
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