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 (Canadian equivalent of the Grammy) for best album of the year in the "heavy metal" category for their 2015 album Of Ghosts and Gods.
Kataklysm was formed in Montreal, Quebec in September 1991.[1] At the beginning of their career, they were known for their fast and technical brand of death metal, known as the "Northern Hyperblast".[2]Nuclear Blast soon took notice of the band in 1992 after noticing the band's debut demo The Death Gate Cycle of Reincarnation, which gained significant praise from the underground metal scene. In 1994, Kataklysm signed to Nuclear Blast and released their first EP The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation, followed by their debut album Sorcery in 1995. This was followed in 1996 by their second full-length album Temple of Knowledge, which they accompanied with their first music video for the album's track, "The Awakener". Following the release of this album however, founding member and lead vocalist Sylvain Houde departed from the band. This, as Houde himself confessed, was due to the emotional effects surrounding the end of his romantic relationship.[3] Subsequently, the band's bassist Maurizio Iacono replaced Houde as vocalist, ceding his duties as bassist to Stephane Barbe. The band's musical direction shifted from being primarily spearheaded by Houde to both Iacono and founding guitarist JF Dagenais instead.
In 1998, the band released their third studio album Victims of this Fallen World, (Iacono's first as vocalist) which has been noted as incorporating a more groove-oriented and melodic musical style of death metal. The following album The Prophecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate) released in 2000 consolidated this style, lessening the chaotic nature of their work thus far and incorporating greater influences from thrash metal. The band's 2001 album Epic: The Poetry of War added further melody to the band's approach to death metal and the band continued to gain attention and positive critical reception. In the following year, the band released Shadows & Dust, which has been viewed by critics as one of the band's most successful releases because of the overwhelmingly positive reception the band received and the increase in sales compared to the band's prior releases, being the first album to chart in countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and featured one of the band's most recognisable tracks: "In Shadows & Dust".
Two years later, in 2004, the band released Serenity in Fire. The album was notable for the absence of drummer Max Duhamel, Kataklysm's drummer, being temporarily replaced by Martin Maurais, due to injury. The album was again positively received and featured two of the band's best known tracks: "As I Slither" and "The Ambassador of Pain". Duhamel eventually recovered and played on the band's eighth studio album, released in 2006, titled In the Arms of Devastation. The album was a considerable success, with sales exceeding 50,000 units and saw the band's highest charting entries thus far. The band's following album, Prevail, continued to display the band's growing popularity, with sales again exceeding the 50,000 mark. The album's single "Taking the World by Storm" also became the band's most highly viewed track on YouTube, with over three million views.[4]
Maurizio Iacono in 2015
The band released their 11th studio album Waiting for the End to Come on October 29, 2013, followed by their twelfth album Of Ghosts and Gods on July 31, 2015, both to high praise. The band's thirteenth studio album, Meditations, was released in June 2018.[5] The album gained their first album to chart on the Billboard Top 100 charts, positioning at #61, alongside being their highest-charting album in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the band's native Canada.
Kataklysm released their fourteenth studio album Unconquered on September 25, 2020.[6][7] Three weeks before the album's release, the band announced drummer Oli Beaudoin had left the band and was replaced by James Payne.[8] The band was touring Europe in 2023.[9]
The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation is an EP by Canadian death metal, Kataklysm and contains their demo, The Death Gate Cycle of Reincarnation and the bonus track The Orb of Uncreation.
Temple of Knowledge (Kataklysm Part III) is the second full-length by Kataklysm released in 1996 by Nuclear Blast. It was re-issued in 2003 as a digipak and included their demo The Vortex of Resurrection.
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.
Sorcery is the debut studio album by Kataklysm released in 1995 by Nuclear Blast. It was later re-issued with The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation as bonus tracks.
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 J-F 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.
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.
Oli Beaudoin is a Juno Award winning drummer, record producer, composer and mixer.
Waiting for the End to Come is the eleventh studio album by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm.
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.
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!”
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