We're not escaping 2017 that easily. This year has already seen the rock and metal world lose a number of acts either to death or retirement, making it another grueling year on the heels of the devastating losses in 2016. Now, Sweden's premiere melancholic rockers Katatonia have revealed that their future is now uncertain and they'll be taking a break to collectively decide how to move forward... if they ultimately decide to continue in the first place.

The band was recently forced to reschedule tour dates in the Baltics and Russia for medical reasons as guitarist Roger Öjersson was hospitalized with an "extensive back injury" according to a Dec. 2 update on Katatonia's Facebook page. They've now released a statement regarding their future, which reads,

Following our re-scheduled dates for the Baltics and Russia in Feb/March, due to recent issues and injury, it will mark the end of the touring cycle for 'The Fall of Hearts' and after much deliberation we have decided that we will put Katatonia on a short-term hiatus.
We need to take some time out to re-evaluate what the future holds for the band. Unfortunately this will affect the live dates in Norway, Germany, Spain and Poland, and we are deeply sorry for any inconvenience caused.

There's been some turmoil in the Katatonia camp over the last three years as the band turned over two members, longtime drummer Daniel Liljekvist and four year axeman Per Eriksson, in 2014. The two were supplanted by Daniel Moilanen and Öjersson respectively. Moilanen made his studio debut with the band on last year's magnificent The Fall of Hearts while Öjersson contributed three solos.

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