Artist: Kataklysm
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 3/9/04
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Title: Serenity in Fire Artist: Kataklysm Label: Nuclear Blast Records Release Date: 3/9/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
I was never a fan of this band, but their last two albums, Epic (Poetry of War) and Shadows & Dust, had me warming up to them. Their newest release, Serenity in Fire sees the band slipping into a mire of mediocrity marked by a lack of apparent ambition.
"One word review: Deceptive." If that all sounds too harsh, it's not meant to be. This album will be accepted readily by the band's less discerning fans, as it isn't that much of an evolution in sound from their last album. Where I think this album pales is in the songwriting. The band makes it easy to ignore the tepid riffs by bringing the rhythm section to the forefront. The drumming on this album is just plain punishing, violently force-feeding you each song and battering you into submission. The drumming is so impressive that it is entirely possible that it can distract you from the understated, simplistic riffs that find a good amount of groove, but utterly fail to excite.
The album also suffers from a stifled guitar sound that fails to take control of the song, further allowing the drums to over(shadow and dust) the riffs. A better title to the record would be Complacency in Warmth. The guitar sound isn't plagued by poor production, in fact this album is about as slick as can be, but rather a poor choice in effects.
The songwriting is very catchy, almost blatantly so, but the songs which seem geared toward widespread appeal, such as "As I Slither" seem to annoy me like a jingle you can't get out of your head. In this respect, I can see this album enjoying quite a buzz initially, but ultimately it's just a mediocre death metal record with some killer drums attached. One word review: Deceptive.
Death's Review:
Kataklysm picked up a serious head of steam with their last record, Shadows & Dust. The time is now for the veteran band to break, with their seventh album Serenity in Fire. Too bad I just read on Blabbermouth that only 686 of you (couldn't it have at least been 666?) bought the album in its first week of release in the U.S. (by way of comparison, the new Cannibal Corpse and Deicide records each sold over 4,000 in their first weeks). Too bad that we, the Judgment Committee, got so far behind with new releases that we couldn't review this album the week it came out. I could have admonished you to go out and buy this album, if for no other reason than to support the wild notion that veteran underground death metal bands still can make commercial waves this far into their career. To me, Kataklysm was one of the first acts to validate the importance of the new Headbanger's Ball, and the success of the "Shadows & Dust" video seemed to really give the band some much needed late-inning momentum. Too bad they didn't get the tour with Opeth to set this new record up, a slot that went to the ex-Coal Chamber vocalist's Devil Driver instead (yes, I'll admit it, I am addicted to Blabbermouth).
"Musically, Serenity in Fire is a death metal triumph." Still, musically, Serenity in Fire is a death metal triumph. The production is solid, the drumming fast and aggressive, and the songs brutal yet interesting. I never was quite sure what the hell "northern hyperblast" meant, other than a marketing term (OK, they're from Canada and they play fast death metal), but I suppose they retain every ounce of it with this record. If anything, I'm disappointed they did not capitalize on their momentum a bit more, elevating the sound to new levels. There is nothing as catchy as "In Shadows and Dust" here, but perhaps that is beside the point. Rather than let success go to his head, Maurizo and Co. (guitarist JF Degenais, bass player Stephane Barbe, and new drummer Martin Maurais) go for the throat. Long time fans will rejoice. The periphery may be a bit underwhelmed. But who cares about them anyway? I'm looking forward to a new video and tour. Get behind this one folks - serene or no, let's keep the Kataklysm fire burning for years to come.
Hel's Review:
I’ve been anxiously awaiting this album. I’d put their classic combo reissue Sorcery & the Mystical Gate of Reincarnation in my car’s changer a few months ago and haven’t been able to take it out since, and my fondness for their last couple of efforts has already been expressed on this very site. So, really, to say I’ve been anxiously awaiting it is something of an understatement.
"Overall, the songwriting is very well done, catchy and brutal at the same time." Serenity in Fire is still growing on me at this point. I was surprised at first that they had included some slower tempos here and there, but there is still plenty of insanely fast double bass to be found and the guitar riffs continue to be stellar. I find the chorus of third track “As I Slither” really irritating, but the rest of the song helps redeem it. Overall, the songwriting is very well done, catchy and brutal at the same time.
I know that as I continue to listen to this album it will work its way farther under my skin, as they all do. I definitely recommend that everyone go out and pick up this album, not just because it contains great music, but because Kataklysm has such a history of putting out amazing records that they truly deserve the full support of the underground. They’ve been unsung for far too long, and that is just a travesty in my book. I wish them the best of luck with this album and look forward to seeing them tour. I recommend you all do the same. Be sure to check them out when they come near your town because live is the only way to experience their true Kataklysmic power.
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