Review by ZeroSymbolic7188 for Katatonia - Dance of December Souls (1993)

The music on this album is some of the most beautifully composed and interesting doom metal I've ever heard. It is truly incredible. I am without the words to describe how good the instrumentation here really is. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the vocals. The listening experience for me was a back and forth between wanting to bail out because of the vocals, and wanting to stay and see what new, gorgeus, and interesting, things the music would do. A positive that I will say for the vocal though; it isn't boring, and it isn't low effort. The man singing these songs is pouring absolutely everything he has into every word, the problem may very well be that it's just too much. It's such an over-the-top performance that for me it became grating, but it's definitely not lazy or lacking enthuasm. 

...it might even grow on me over time.