Of Ghost and Gods

Author: Primož Novak

Artist: Kataklysm
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release: year_month
Running time: 45:56
Rating: 3.2/5

Fans of the Canadian outfit Kataklysm can only be happy when a new album lands every two years. The band has put out 12 albums in the last 20 years, and they really do seem unstoppable. But the fans who’ve been following them since the nineties probably can’t get all that excited about the current records. The band ditched true death metal a long time ago, the very thing that set the Canadian scene apart. Kataklysm have gone more commercial: there’s more melody, more soaring choruses and countless sing-a-long sections. That’s also filling bigger halls for them, and they’re simply enjoying their reputation.

With Of Ghost and Gods, everyone was expecting the best album yet. This time for real. No joke. The band announced that every song is equally good, which is why they shot a video for each and every one. So, going by the hype, we should be getting the next Master of Puppets or Reign in Blood.

But sadly, the truth is quite different. Right from the opening track Breaching the Asylum, we get a worn-out melodic intro and a clichéd verse riff that probably only Amon Amarth would still use. The Black Sheep tells a similar story, except the band throws in a short breakdown, which makes Kataklysm lose even more originality. It’s hard to sound more American than this. Things do pick up a bit toward the end of the album, but there’s no big turnaround. Besides the melody, the band also adds a little groove, which gives the songs a bit more dynamics. Some tracks can even boast a more death metal feel. Marching Through Graveyards and Hate Spirit confirm that guitarist Jean-François Dagenais can still write a death metal riff. Drummer Olivier Beaudoin probably helped there too. He already proved himself on the previous album Waiting for the End to Come as an excellent replacement for the faltering Max Duhamel, who couldn’t keep up the tempo. At times, though, it seems like the drummer is the most interesting member of Kataklysm, when you hear his sense of speed and groove.

The lyrics have become another pretty weak spot. Vocalist Maurizio Iacono is undoubtedly easy to understand, but his emotional lyrics are anything but original, since that kind of writing is typical of metalcore bands. At times it’s even strange that there aren’t any clean vocals on top.

The closer, The World Is A Dying Insect, sounds promising. Kataklysm have always known how to write songs that lean more melancholic. This time you have to give them credit: they pulled it off with an interesting structure and mournful melodies. Unfortunately, a good ending doesn’t make up for the rest of the songs, which are full of clichés, generic moments and predictability. Kataklysm do have a good recipe for luring in a crowd, but by hammering on one melody too much, their inventiveness simply evaporates.

The sound itself says a lot too. On their last few albums, Kataklysm have worked with renowned producers who’ve had a hand in many of today’s important records. This time sonic perfection came courtesy of Andy Sneap, whom the band simply couldn’t afford years ago.

»Cranking out« albums rarely pays off. With Kataklysm, you can feel it all over the place, from the lack of real ideas to the obsessive trend-chasing. Kataklysm probably won’t stop anytime soon and start writing songs in a more thoughtful way. They’re currently enjoying the greatest popularity of their career, and they can hold on to it with average albums.

Line-up

Maurizio Iacono – vocals

J-F Deganais – guitar

Stephane Barbe – bass

Oliver Beaudoin – drums

Production

J-F Deganais, Andy Sneap, Mark Lewis (vocals)

Tracklist