Saw You Drown EP released

While Renkse experimented with clean, melodic vocals over metal instrumentation as early as the 1994 recording of the track “Scarlet Heavens” (later released in very limited capacity on Katatonia/Primordial in 1996), the band did not feel ready to pursue that sort of sound at the time. However, after the band’s 1997 releases, due to a desire to create more emotive and evolving music, the band decided to move in that direction. The first of said releases was an EP entitled Saw You Drown , released in early 1997, which also contained the first wide release of “Scarlet Heavens”. Later in 1998, the band released their first full-album of this style, titled Discouraged Ones . After the release, the band signed a multi-album record deal with Peaceville , which would mark the first time the band would work with a bigger label, and stay with them for the long-term. Additionally, Renkse wanted to focus further on dedicating himself to developing his clean vocals, leading him to no longer do any further drumming for the band. The band kept active, recording and releasing their fourth album, Tonight’s Decision , in 1999. The sessions were difficult, with the writing alone taking Renkse and Nyström over seven months to complete. Once recording, they recruited Dan Swanö , who had helped assist the band in the past, as a sessions drummer. While the album contained no screamed vocals, the band still retained Åkerfeldt, who still assisted with vocal production on the album, as they had with Discouraged Ones .