Artist: Kataklysm
Label:Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 1996
Rating: 5 Skulls
Kefka X's Review:
Talk about a consistent catalog. For well over a decade now, Kataklysm has put out nothing but quality death metal releases to satisfy any patron of extreme music. Finally it seems the band is receiving the attention they deserve, with albums such as Shadows and Dust and their new release, Serenity in Fire, receiving high recognition in the world of metal. If you still haven't heard Kataklysm after all of this time, you suck. Plain and simple. Grab an album. Hell, grab their entire discography! You can't go wrong.I'm ranting again. Okay anyways, this brings us to Canadian's "northern hyperblast's" sophomore effort, Temple of Knowledge. While Kataklysm has always put forth killer efforts with every album, no two sound alike. And by saying this, Temple of Knowledge sounds nothing like any of their other recordings. Temple of Knowledge is to Kataklysm's discography as Legion is to Deicide's, in that it strays away from the normal formula of the band to explore new levels of extremity and succeeds in making a unique masterpiece. There are no slow passages or breakdowns that allow melody to seep in (unlike their first full-length, Sorcery). Instead, everything about this album is chaotic and frenzied. The transitioning from riff to riff is very well thought-out and seldom distracts the listener. It's a very technical release, although often sloppy in the midst of the speed that the music is played at.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this album is the vocal performance from original frontman, Sylvian Houde. Not since Cryptopsy's crowning opus, None So Vile, has there been a vocalist as unique and fascinating to listen to as this. Sylvian is so versatile and makes so many uses of his voice it's almost impossible to believe that there is not more than one vocalist performing on this release. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite vocal performances on any death metal album I've ever heard.
Overall, this is my favorite Kataklysm recording. It may not be their heaviest and it may not have the breakdowns that albums like Prophecy and Shadows in Dust had, but it's certainly the most brutal release they've ever put out. It's a very unique listening experience. It's a death metal release you've never heard before. If anything, listen to it for curiosity's sake. I assure you that you won't be disappointed.
So there you have it, another reason to listen to Kataklysm. Get your ass to the store, now . . . or ebay.
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