Kataklysm
Template:About Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use Canadian English
Template:Infobox musical artist
Kataklysm is a Canadian death metal band. As of 2024, they have released fifteen studio albums, two EPs, and two DVDs. Kataklysm received their first Juno Award (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy) for Best Album of the Year in the "Heavy Metal" category for their 2015 album Of Ghosts and Gods.
BiographyEdit
Kataklysm was formed in Montreal, Quebec in September 1991.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Early in their career, the band became known for their fast and technical brand of death metal, referred to as the "Northern Hyperblast".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nuclear Blast discovered the band in 1992 after the release of their debut demo, The Death Gate Cycle of Reincarnation, which received significant acclaim in the underground metal scene. In 1994, Kataklysm signed with Nuclear Blast and released their first EP, The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation, followed by their debut album, Sorcery, in 1995. In 1996, they released their second full-length album, Temple of Knowledge, which included their first music video for the track "The Awakener". However, following the album's release, founding member and lead vocalist Sylvain Houde left the band, citing emotional difficulties related to the end of a romantic relationship.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jumf-UjSU9E Template:Dead link</ref> Bassist Maurizio Iacono subsequently took over as vocalist, with Stephane Barbe replacing him as bassist. This shift also marked a change in the band's musical direction, with Iacono and founding guitarist JF Dagenais assuming creative leadership.
In 1998, Kataklysm released their third studio album, Victims of this Fallen World—Iacono's first as vocalist—which featured a more groove-oriented and melodic approach to death metal. The 2000 album The Prophecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate) further refined this style, reducing the chaotic elements of their earlier work and incorporating stronger thrash metal influences. Their 2001 release, Epic: The Poetry of War, continued to add melodic elements to their death metal sound, earning them further critical acclaim. In 2002, the band released Shadows & Dust, widely regarded as one of their most successful albums. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews and marked an increase in sales compared to their previous releases. This album was also their first to chart in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and included one of their most recognisable tracks: "In Shadows & Dust".
Two years later, in 2004, the band released Serenity in Fire. The album was notable for the temporary absence of drummer Max Duhamel, who was replaced by Martin Maurais due to an injury. Serenity in Fire was well received and included two of the band's most iconic tracks: "As I Slither" and "The Ambassador of Pain". Duhamel recovered in time to perform on the band's eighth studio album, In the Arms of Devastation, released in 2006. This album was a significant success, with sales exceeding 50,000 units and achieving the band's highest charting positions up to that point.
The subsequent album, Prevail, demonstrated Kataklysm's continued rise in popularity, with sales again surpassing 50,000 units. The single "Taking the World by Storm" became the band's most-watched track on YouTube, garnering over three million views.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2008, Kataklysm performed at the UK's Bloodstock festival, sharing the stage with headliners Nightwish and Dimmu Borgir.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The band released their eleventh 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 albums received widespread acclaim. Kataklysm's thirteenth studio album, Meditations, was released in June 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Meditations became the band's first album to chart on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #61. It also marked their highest charting positions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and their native Canada.
Kataklysm released their fourteenth studio album, Unconquered, on September 25, 2020.<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Three weeks prior to the album's release, the band announced that drummer Oli Beaudoin had departed and was replaced by James Payne.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The band continued touring Europe in 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Their fifteenth album, Goliath, was released on August 11, 2023.
MembersEdit
- Kataklysm live at With Full Force 2018
- Kataklysm With Full Force 2018 08.jpg
Maurizio Iacono
- Kataklysm With Full Force 2018 02.jpg
Jean-François Dagenais
- Kataklysm With Full Force 2018 11.jpg
Stéphane Barbe
- Kataklysm With Full Force 2018 01.jpg
Oli Beaudoin
Template:Col-float Current members
- Maurizio Iacono – vocals Template:Small, bass, backing vocals Template:Small
- Jean-François Dagenais – guitars Template:Small
- Stephane Barbe – bass Template:Small
- James Payne – drums Template:Small
Template:Col-float-break Former members
- Sylvain Houde – vocals Template:Small
- Stephane Côté – guitars Template:Small
- Ariel Saied Martinez – drums Template:Small
- Max Duhamel – drums Template:Small
- Nick Miller – drums Template:Small
- Martin Maurais – drums Template:Small
- Oli Beaudoin – drums Template:Small
Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:75 top:5 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1991 till:11/20/2024 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1991 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1991 Legend = position:bottom orientation:horizontal
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:album value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.9)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
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layer:back color:album at:02/10/1995 at:06/26/1996 at:10/05/1998 at:04/17/2000 at:09/03/2001 at:10/15/2002 at:03/09/2004 at:02/21/2006 at:05/23/2008 at:08/13/2010 at:10/25/2013 at:07/31/2015 at:06/01/2018 at:09/25/2020 at:08/11/2023
BarData =
bar:houde text:"Sylvain Houde" bar:dagenais text:"Jean-François Dagenais" bar:cote text:"Stephane Côté" bar:iacono text:"Maurizio Iacono" bar:barbe text:"Stephane Barbe" bar:martinez text:"Ariel Saied Martinez" bar:duhamel text:"Max Duhamel" bar:miller text:"Nick Miller" bar:maurais text:"Martin Maurais" bar:beaudoin text:"Oli Beaudoin" bar:payne text:"James Payne"
PlotData =
width:11 bar:houde from:start till:02/01/1998 color:vocals bar:iacono from:start till:02/01/1998 color:bass bar:iacono from:02/01/1998 till:end color:vocals bar:barbe from:02/01/1998 till:end color:bass bar:dagenais from:start till:end color:guitar bar:cote from:start till:12/31/1992 color:guitar bar:martinez from:start till:12/31/1992 color:drums bar:duhamel from:01/01/1993 till:12/31/1995 color:drums bar:duhamel from:02/01/1998 till:12/31/2002 color:drums bar:duhamel from:02/01/2005 till:04/01/2013 color:drums bar:miller from:01/01/1996 till:02/01/1998 color:drums bar:maurais from:01/01/2003 till:02/01/2005 color:drums bar:beaudoin from:04/01/2013 till:11/01/2020 color:drums bar:payne from:11/01/2020 till:end color:drums
</timeline>
DiscographyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
- Sorcery (1995)
- Temple of Knowledge (1996)
- Victims of this Fallen World (1998)
- The Prophecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate) (2000)
- Epic: The Poetry of War (2001)
- Shadows & Dust (2002)
- Serenity in Fire (2004)
- In the Arms of Devastation (2006)
- Prevail (2008)
- Heaven's Venom (2010)
- Waiting for the End to Come (2013)
- Of Ghosts and Gods (2015)
- Meditations (2018)
- Unconquered (2020)
- Goliath (2023)
Awards and nominationsEdit
| Year | OrganizationTemplate:Citation needed | Award | Work or author awarded | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Canadian Independent Music Awards | Favourite Metal Artist/Group | Kataklysm | Nominated |
| 2006 | Canadian Independent Music Awards | Favourite Metal Artist/Group | Kataklysm | Winner |
| 2008 | fr:Gala alternatif de la musique indépendante du Québec | Album Métal/Hardcore de l'année | Prevail | Nominated |
| 2011 | fr:Gala alternatif de la musique indépendante du Québec | Album Métal/Hardcore de l'année | Heaven's Venom | Nominated |
| 2013 | Canadian Independent Music Awards | Metal Band of the Year | Kataklysm | Winner |
| 2015 | Juno Awards | Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year | Waiting for the End to Come | Nominated |
| Canadian Independent Music Awards | Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year | Waiting for the End to Come | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Juno Awards | Heavy Metal Album of the Year | Of Ghosts and Gods | Winner |