| Caligvla | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 31 August 2012 | |||
| Genre | Symphonic death metal | |||
| Length | 49:29 | |||
| Label | Napalm Records | |||
| Producer | Maurizio Iacono, Jean-François Dagenais | |||
| Ex Deo chronology | ||||
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Caligvla is the second album released by Canadian death metal band Ex Deo, on 31 August 2012. The album title refers to Caligula, the third emperor of Rome known for his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and intense personal insanity. [1]
Ex Deo first announced its second album on 19 August 2010 through their Facebook page. They mentioned the writing process would begin in late 2011. [2] On 14 October 2010 the band revealed the new album's title Caligula, [3] which would later be changed to Caligvla. [4] On 16 April 2011 the band announced would take longer than initially expected. [5]
On 28 September 2011, an announcement was made that the album would be released on 31 August 2012, which would also mark Caligula's 2000th anniversary. In November 2011, the band began to record for the album. On 4 February 2012 Maurizio posted a studio update that most of the symphonies and orchestral parts were done. He also mentioned that the process of creating the album would take a lot of time and would possibly interfere with their Paganfest tour. The band cancelled their appearance at "Paganfest America Part III" a few days later. [6] [7]
Iacono commented on the cancellation: [7]
"We were all excited to play this festival and premier some new material, but unfortunately our new album, 'Caligvla', has been delayed, and we need to finish it and make it perfect. Add to that, the Kataklysm DVD is also on its final production phase... We decided it would be best to concentrate on giving every bit of attention to the album you have been waiting for, and also for the Kataklysm documentary to kick major ass. This being said, we will still perform with Ex Deo on the Montreal and Toronto shows with Paganfest, as we will be in studio in the area, closing up the album 'Caligvla'. Everything else is cancelled for Ex Deo. We will return to support the album in the fall... Word from Rome is that the plans are already in motion for world conquest! We ask our fans to support Paganfest and the great bands playing this year!"
On 16 February 2012 Maurizio started recording his vocals which would be finished by 21 February. [8] In March 2012 the band revealed the final track listing of Caligvla and also announced they began mixing the album. [9] [10] On 23 March 2012, the band revealed the guest appearances on Caligvla, which would involve Seth Siro (Septic Flesh), Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania), Stefano Fiori (Graveworm) and Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish). [11] The band unveiled the album cover artwork for Caligvla on 15 April 2012. [12]
In June 2012, the band announced a video for the song I, Caligvla, featuring Maurizio's girlfriend and Colombian model Suzzy. On 27 July 2012 they uploaded the new video for I, Caligvla on YouTube. [13]
MetalStorm rated it 7.9/10. [14]
MetalSucks gave it 3.5/5.0 horns. [15]
The Encyclopaedia Metallum currently has an average rating of 83% approval. [16]
Metal Underground gave it five skulls, indicating that it was "Perfection. (No discernable flaws; one of the reviewer's all-time favorites)" [17]
Angry Metal Guy gave the album a 'very good' rating of 3.5/5.0 with the epithet "Move over, vest metal, make room for Chest Plate Metal!" [18]
The intro to 'Once Were Romans' is taken from the historical drama TV series Rome . [16]
Tristania was a Norwegian gothic metal band formed in 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Tristania's music is usually classified as Gothic metal with death influences, due to its strong tie and legacy within the gothic metal history. Their songs largely dealt with dark and sentimental topics, including depression, sadness, suicide, love, absence, and anger.
Moonsorrow is a Finnish pagan metal band formed in Helsinki in 1995. Musically, the band incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal in their sound. The band call their sound "epic heathen metal" and try to distance themselves from the term "Viking metal". They have distanced themselves from other folk metal bands, emphasising that their music is pagan and spiritual and is challenging for its listeners, rather than happy or danceable. The band members have varying levels of pagan belief but they draw on pagan spirituality for lyrics and inspiration.
Kataklysm is a Canadian death metal band. They have released fourteen studio albums, one EP and two DVDs as of 2020. Kataklysm won their first Juno Award for best album of the year in the "heavy metal" category for their 2015 album Of Ghosts and Gods.
Northern Hyperblast Live is a live album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm. It is the last appearance of singer Sylvain Houde with the band. It also includes the EP Vision the Chaos.
In the Arms of Devastation is the eighth studio album by the Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.
Serenity in Fire is the seventh studio album from Canadian death metal band Kataklysm. The spoken passage in the track The Ambassador of Pain is a quote from Paul Newman's character in the film, Road to Perdition. Peter Tägtgren contributed guest vocals on the album.
Shadows & Dust is the sixth studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.
Epic: The Poetry of War is the fifth studio album by the Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.
The Prophecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate) is the fourth studio album by the Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.
Victims of this Fallen World is the third studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm. It is the first Kataklysm album to feature Maurizio Iacono as frontman and lead vocalist. The album was eventually re-recorded in 2005.
Jean-François Dagenais is a French-Canadian record producer, mix engineer, guitarist and songwriter specializing in the rock and metal genres. Born and raised in Canada, Dagenais is now a naturalized citizen of the United States living in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as guitarist for the death metal band Kataklysm and for producing and mixing many heavy metal albums and its subgenres.
Prevail is the ninth studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm, released May 23, 2008 in Europe and June 6, 2008 in North America. Music videos were filmed for the tracks "Taking The World By Storm" and "Blood in Heaven".
Ex Deo is a Canadian death metal band formed in Montreal, Quebec in 2008. The band is a side project of Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono, and is based on the history of the Roman Empire.
Romulus is the debut full-length album by Canadian death metal band Ex Deo. The album was released on June 19, 2009, through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded with producer and Kataklysm guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais.
Oracles is a Belgian melodic death metal band formed by the couple Sven de Caluwé and Miri Milman and featuring members from Israel, Netherlands, Greece and the US. On 13 March 2014, the band had announced an indefinite hiatus and disbanded after a messy divorce between Sven and Miri, but reformed in December 2014 as Oracles, with Sanna Salou, from Dimlight, on vocals. In 2020, Miri Milman reformed System Divide, and released a new single.
Heaven's Venom is the tenth studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm. It was released on August 13, 2010 (Europe) and August 24, 2010 (America) through Nuclear Blast.
Darkest White is the seventh and final full-length album by the Norwegian gothic metal band Tristania. It is the second Tristania album to feature Mariangela Demurtas and Kjetil Nordhus on vocals.
Waiting for the End to Come is the eleventh studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.
Of Ghosts and Gods is the twelfth studio album by the Canadian death metal band Kataklysm. It was released on 31 July 2015.
Meditations is the thirteenth studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm. The album was produced by the band's guitarist and drummer, Jean-François Dagenais and Oli Beaudoin respectively, and mixed by Jay Ruston, who helmed Anthrax and Stone Sour's latest records. Paul Logus mastered the album. The album was released on June 1, 2018. The band released a lyric video of the single 'Guillotine' on March 30, 2018, and another for the song 'Narcissist' on May 5, 2018. Singer Maurizio Iacono commented to Blabbermouth:
"This is a very personal album to me with old wounds being revisited — I felt a big urge to pour my soul into this release. The boys and I were isolated under the same roof during the writing process, just like we did in the early days... with no worries except having fun, being honest and delivering a serious album that represents us today but respects our past. Our new story is coming and we are eager to share it with you!”
