KATATONIA posted this satement on their official site:

"Peaceville will be issuing a limited edition compilation entitled 'The Black Sessions' featuring selected material from the "new era" (defined 1998-2004) as opposed to the "old era" material covered in 'Brave Yester Days' at the end of January. The packaging will be a box set of two discs featuring all the single's b-sides, cover songs and selective songs off 'Discouraged Ones' up and til 'Viva Emptiness' (including one unreleased track from this recording session). There'll also be a third disc in the form of a live DVD with a Katatonia live show from April 2003 that was shot in Kracow, Poland. The layout of a 12 page booklet + poster will be handled by Travis Smith.

The official DVD release that has been in the works since over a year and a half has been postponed to a yet undecided future date, likely during the later part of 2005. Reason is we didn't feel entirely happy with the way it was shaping up and it wouldn't meet our own demands of what should be Katatonia's first offical DVD release. A new main show for this DVD will be planned and shot with more careful directing behind it during next year (tba). We're also pretty far on our way of gathering cool backstage and bootleg shots with our own handycam, that will in the end make up some great bonus footage for a well worthwhile killer release."

KATATONIA don't support re-issue of their classic album 'Dance Of December Souls'. Press-statement from their web-site:

"It has been known to us, that Black Lodge records are going to re-issue the old classic 'Dance of December Souls' album. Although the CD could just as well have been re-pressed with the original cover and old logo, it now ridicules both the past and present by showing up with a new pathetic cover trying to depict elements from our last album and the abuse of the "new era" logo on something that was released more than 10 year ago. Don't be fooled into confusing this is for a new Katatonia release. Consequently, we do not support this re-issue and take complete distance from its existance".

After a highly successful headline tour of Europe the laconic Swedes are back in Stockholm, holed up in bed with lots of hankies & night nurse for company, shaking off a nasty bout of tour bus lurgy. As the media train shows no sign of slowing down since the release of their sixth album - Viva Emptiness, Jonas is still in full interview swing between bouts of coughing & sneezing. Poor love. Viva Emptiness sales have exceeded even our high expectations. Expect more festival dates to be announced real soon.