KATAKLYSM — Unconquered (review)

KATAKLYSM — Unconquered album cover Album · 2020 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Kev Rowland
One thing one notices immediately with this album is the depth and power of the production, which is not at all surprising when one reads the small print and realised that none other than the mighty Colin Richardson has been coaxed into his first death metal album since his retirement. It is hard to believe that this is the fourteenth album from the French-Canadian melodic death metal outfit, and with an incredibly stable line-up (although it has to be noted that since this recording, drummer Oli Beaudoin has left the band to be replaced by James Payne). With two members having been there since the beginning some 30 years ago, in Maurizio Iacono (vocals) and JF Dagenais (guitars), plus bassist Stéphane Barbe has been there for more than 20, there is no wonder that they have focus and know what they want to achieve.

“It’s so aggressive yet at the same time, easy to listen to,” describes Dagenais, and this comes home with the opening number, which apparently was also put out as a single, “The Killshot”. It is massively aggressive, with plenty of downtuned ferocity, yet is amazingly catchy, and this coming together of the two quite different avenues results in something which is deep, dramatic, and intensely powerful. It has been quite a while since I last heard anything from these guys, and the last album I reviewed was 2013’s ‘Waiting For The End To Come’ and they have released two more in between these, and it appears I have been missing out as this is a fun ride from beginning to end. They have long past got past the point of having to prove themselves to anyone, and instead are out to have a blast, and that is exactly what they are doing.

This album does show that they are still continuing to push themselves, with Dagenais saying, “From the ground up, the first demos to the final thing, I didn’t want to have any regrets with this. I wanted to make sure there was nothing left behind, unfinished, no mistakes.” He even employed a 7-string guitar on the album for the very first time, providing that additional element which comes from hitting the chords in a different manner and having additional range. Powerful, and intensely impressive, this is a goodie. 
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