When you think of Canada, a few things come to mind: Ice Hockey, that crazy meth smoking mayor, and Celine Dion – well that’s what I thought anyway!
But 1992 Canadian death metal outfit Kataklysm released the demo “Death Gate Cycle of Reincarnation” to rave reviews which left metal tongues all around the world licking their lips in anticipation and excitement for what the future may hold for this 5 piece wrecking ball of deathgasm joy!
Jump forward a few periods of sleep, wars, and other nasty shit, man has bestowed upon each other and we get to 2013 where Kataklysm is one of the heavyweight champs when it comes to all things Death Metal. With the release of the latest offering “Waiting for the End to Come”, they prove the championship belt they have slapped around their waists isn’t going anytime soon. This is a good album, not a great album from these guys, in a year when there was a hell of a lot of amazing albums released, this is right up there.
Along with Nuclear Blast stable mates Carcass, it’s on high rotation for my poor ears and right on top as one of the best Death releases for 2013. The production is ultra-clean and crisp and masterfully done by Jean François Dagenais, who’s also been behind the mixing board for bands like Malevolent Creation, Despised Icon, and Misery Index, with his skills rising like the cream in my latte mug of metal.
Musically, it’s a riff-fest – not ultra-fast like many releases of the year, but man does it keep the air double bass kicks flowing and the neck-wrenching bedroom moshing going like a bobblehead action figure in overdrive.
Highlights for me personally on the album, a tough as it was to decide, were the tracks “The Promise”- a more thrash death release which reminded me a lot of Bloodbath in parts and the opening track “Fire” which is as nasty as a puck to the face at an ice hockey game.
After so many years and 16 or so releases coming from these Canadian masters, “Waiting for the End to Come” has given me nothing but faith that old dudes still kick some serious ass when it comes to showing the young pups what it takes to whip out classic Death Metal, and there are plenty of old dudes out there releasing some of the best material of their careers, and this Kataklysm album is no exception.
Kataklysm: Facebook
Release Year: 2013
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Category: Album
Country: Canada
Reviewed by Hayden G.M.
