Artist: Kataklysm
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 9/18/01
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Title: Epic (The Poetry of War) Artist: Kataklysm Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 9/18/01 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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4 | ||
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Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
I haven’t thought about Kayaklysm in a long, long time. Back in 1995, I bought their The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation EP, and within a short amount of time I realized that it sucked. I lumped Kataklysm in with a whole group of death metal acts that I thought of as generic, poor metal that benefited from the early to mid-nineties rush to sign death metal acts. Needless to say the CD was relegated to the bowels of my collection, never to be heard from again. So when I was given this assignment I was ready to struggle through a few listens of the album, write my scathing review and look forward to the metal for the following week.
"I’m very surprised that I like this new record." It seemed that my preconceptions were founded after I read the label’s promotional schtick that goes something like this: “In a time when bands are turning an ear toward the more accessible with guitar harmonies and vocal melodies, Kataklysm remains brutal to the core.” Sounds like more of the same generic death metal, huh? Well I’m very surprised that I like this new record. Of course, the reason I like it is because it seems that this band has made an effort to sound a bit more accessible. Which leads to the question, “Who the fuck writes these promos?” I mean, these guys are by no means a Gothenburg band, but this stuff is not nearly the most brutal thing out there. If I had to pigeonhole it, I guess it reminds me of Hypocrisy meets newer Death, without the technicalities.
But who cares about categorizing it, this shit is good. Smart, simple riffs drive each song here, broken up only by a good deal of blast beats. And while there is something on this album that feels a little incomplete, I can’t put my finger on it so I just ignore it and enjoy the music. The early favorite is “What We Endure” with its head banging riff at the end a perfect summation of this album as a whole.
"Who cares about categorizing it, this shit is good." Only time will tell if this album is as good as I think it is, or if I was just so ready for a crappy album that this record is benefiting from very low expectations, but I gotta think the average metal head is going to enjoy every minute this sucker’s on. One word review: Solid.
Death's Review:
I knew the name, I'd read the hype. But I didn't really know the band. "Northern Hyperblast" they called it, although I'm not exactly sure what that tells me except that they are from Canada and that there probably will be some blastbeats. Yes, Kataklysm had been around since at least 1992, but this was to be my first focused exposure to the act. My verdict? Killer.
This is some seriously pummeling, blackened death metal. Sick death metal riffs, grooves and double-bass drums are complemented with some blackened screams and blasts, and even a touch of Gothenburg-style dual-guitar melody. All of it adds up a fairly lethal combination that should not be ignored. Think old Sepultura, Cannibal Corpse, Cradle of Filth and Hypocrisy mixed together and you begin to understand.
"Veteran status, true-metal intentions, pummeling riffs, good production and diverse elements of creative variety. You really can't ask for a lot more." An interesting side note to ponder was raised by my recent conversation with Famine regarding my two reviews this week: Slipknot and Kataklysm. Whether or not you think the finished Iowa record actually ended up fitting the bill, for some time I had been looking to its release as a kind of gateway drug for nu-metallers to get into underground death. Famine, who hadn't yet heard the new Slipknot, was really loving this Kataklysm record and its diverse blending of underground metallic elements into the music. He commented to me, "doing Kataklysm and Slipknot in the same week is the perfect combination."
I asked him why. His thought was that Kataklysm is exactly the type of band he hoped would benefit from any Slipknot fans wanting to branch out into the real deal. I'm not sure I agree that this is the band, but for what it is worth, I welcome such an infusion of interest into the Kataklysm camp. The riffs are warm and downtuned yet totally heavy. The production is killer, with a great double-bass sound and good mix of guitars, drums and screams. Kataklysm really does bring it all together from a number of directions. Veteran status (could it be true that they have not yet undergone a lineup change?), true-metal intentions, pummeling riffs, good production and diverse elements of creative variety. You really can't ask for a lot more.
"All of it adds up a fairly lethal combination that should not be ignored."
I definitely recommend Epic (The Poetry of War) to fans of extreme and heavy death metal. But criticisms? Well, I have a couple. At a couple of points throughout the album, the band will telegraph what sounds like it is going to be a killer riff, but instead of feeling the vibe and adopting the groove, the drums come in with a spastic blast beat that just plain ruins the mood. This doesn't happen enough to become a problem, per se, but it is a strike against. This, combined with the overall lack of any real catchiness to the tunes outside of a riff here or a riff there keeps me from taking this one all the way to the top of Five Skull Mountain (bullshit aside - went to Six Flags Great Adventure last week with Hel, Redwolff and others, and we couldn't help but give skull ratings to all of the roller coasters we rode. They have this one cheesy indoor coaster in a really cool giant skull, called Skull Mountain. I don't know who said it first, but Skull Mountain will forever be referred to by me as One Skull Mountain from now on.). But those are hallowed grounds and Kataklysm has made a serious run at them here. Instead, they rest admirably on Four Skull Peak, a place of no shame populated by many greats. Bottom line: an excellent death metal record with some adventurous elements.
"An excellent death metal record with some adventurous elements."
Hel's Review:
Favorite tracks: "Manipulator of Souls" and "Shivers of a New World"As we all know, there's a lot of metal in the world. Therefore, are a limited number of albums can receive Judgment Committee coverage here at Metal Judgment. 'Tis a sad thing, to be sure, but we must all live with our burdens. Last year, I was particularly bummed when we weren't able to fit Kataklysm into the schedule, and I was happy to learn that wrong would be righted this year.
You see, Kataklysm is an excellent band and I think every metalhead should know and love them, but have a feeling that no one knows who they hell they are. Sure, they played at last year's Milwaukee Metalfest (I guess at this year's too, though I wasn't there), but to be totally honest, most of the attendees at these events are such die-hard metal fans, they're the only ones who had ever heard of Kataklysm to begin with! The more non-obsessed, casual metalhead maybe hasn't been exposed to them yet. And if you haven't, you should be. Take it from a completely obsessed metal freak - me.
Their press release proclaims them the founders of a new genre: "northern hyperblast"… Now, I've created a few sub-genres in my day, but this seems to be taking it to new levels of incredible academic precision. Let's down-grade thing a bit and settle for "blackened death" - a slightly broader, if no less completely pulled out of someone's ass, descriptive sub-category - shall we?
"Epic is undeniably complex, interesting, and well-executed." The guitar work is extremely melodic, which creates most of the texture and depth I find so enjoyable in this band. Additionally, the melodies are balanced by straightforward, heavy riffs in some cases, and in others, the riffs are most reminiscent of the dual harmonies found in many black metal bands. An occasional second vocal line consists of the higher pitched screaming I generally associate with black metal as well. The bulk of the vocals are more traditionally death, and there is a death metal overtone throughout the album. And did I mention the blast beats? Galore.
Epic is undeniably complex, interesting, and well-executed. A superior metal work that is worthy of taking home with you. There's a lot of discover within this album, and I have been enjoying my time with it. I had been looking forward to this album and I have not been disappointed in the slightest. I suspect others will feel the same way. Fuck Slipknot - this shit is what's truly heavy! \m/
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