Kataklysm - Prevail [2008]

date: 08 6 2008

Kataklysm died couple of years ago, but I see they're still unburied. So they released another album, the third in the sucky series. Northern hyperblasters, the biggest moniker of the Canadian brutal metal are only few of the epithets that accompanied and characterized the band throughout the years.. by the release of Serenity in Fire, 4 years ago. Since then,, probably pushed from behind by Nuclear Blast, the Canadians are just a shadow crawling in the metal world, trying to hide the creative impotency within mediocre products beautifully packed, according to the without fail recipe of the German businessmen from the label, with execrable DVD bonuses and features that got nothing to say,  but hey, it's cool to have guests like Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy), Morgan Lander (Kittie), or, as for the latest release, Pat O'Brien (Cannibal Corpse) and Dave Linsk (Overkilll). While there are about 4 versions of the album - with DVD, without DVD, with t-shirt, without t-shirt, what about a version with some good music? Just as a bonus.

What we find on the disc after we unpack the nicely artsy coloured wraps? An album produced in septic environment, you can almost hear the microbe jumping up and down on there, guitars mixed and brought up in front on high tones, cymbals that aggress your ears crystal-clearly - in one word- perfect producing, too perfect and certainly totally unfortunate for death metal. OK, mostly death metal rather, as the guys from Kataklysm added few saltant shits that can make you swear you are listening to a band from a happier metal zone. For those expecting the Kataklysm recipe, you won't be disappointed, it's all in there, from the movie intro to the fast, melodic tempo, even the parts played in brutal key, therefore the album evolves in the band's style, but it's too far from its spirit. If the latest effort of another heavy name in death metal, Unleashed, breathes sincerity and creativeness, this Prevail is so obvious made by the book that makes me think they already write at orde, like the fiddlers. Elements a la Swedish have been always present in the music of Kataklysm, but they abound on this opus, guys are probably sensitive at the market's requests. I dare anyone for a bet - that is if they continue with Nuclear Blast, we'll certainly hear a featuring with some whimp like In Flames guy on the upcoming album.

5/10

Peccatum

Lineup
Maurizio Iacono - Vocals
Jean-François Dagenais - Guitars
Stéphane Barbe - Bass
Max Duhamel - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Prevail
2. Taking the World by Storm
3. The Chains of Power
4. As Death Lingers
5. Blood in Heaven
6. To the Throne of Sorrow
7. Breathe to Dominate
8. Tear Down the Kingdom
9. The Vultures Are Watching
10. The Last Effort (Renaissance II)