Kataklysm with “Goliath” are a rare case of delivering much more than promised for a band that some label as Melodic Death Metal. I have respectifully to disagree with the labeling for what I’m hearing here in this album. First of all, as a major characteristic the guitars of a Melodic Death Metal are, not to be redundant but effective, melodic. They are the bringers of the melody that contrast with harsh vocals. For that reason they have a foot on the NWOBHM. I have been listening to tons of albums where the guitars address to it. Here is not the case. They are sharp, the interventions are calculated, they are, let’s say, minimalist as there are few guitar solos in “Goliath” in a flagrant opposition to Melodic Death Metal albums where guitar solos abound. “Goliath” is harsher in a malevolent meaning with all the mesmerzing and hypnotic guitar lines driven to a near Industrial Metal or Deathcore, which wouldn’t be a wrong labeling to it as the breaks in tracks as “Combustion” shows the fan.
But why delivering much more than promised?
Because for all the reasons above. Even though the Deathcore driven the album feels great and go smoothly. From where I’m standing, and my dear chil dof the night knows I don’t like not one of the cores, the album isn’t boring. On the opposite, it’s pretty enthusiastic. The aggression here is natural. It’s organic because it comes from the heart and soul of the band. Kataklysm deliver here a musical killing spree where each track does the slaughter in a constant relentless basis. It’s the kind of non-stop album where are tracks don’t give the fan a rest of the massive pumping and beating even though the moments to breath as the breaks in “Heroes to Villains” – are they so many to count? Or even the more balanced and more groovy “Gravestones & Coffins.” Or the moody “The Sacrifice for Truth” – in these times of fake news is there anyone who still does? By the way, the only guitar solo of all the album is included here.
If my dear child of the night wishes an album with a full non-stop headbanging “Goliath” is the album. It’s an album to give Deathcore – if I may call it this way – a good name. Well, the guitars tell this tale, not me. Just check it out if you don’t believe me.
Kataklysm “Goliath” will be released on August 11th via Nuclear Blast Records.
Track Listing:
- Dark Wings of Deception
- Goliath
- Die as a King
- Bringer of Vengeance
- Combustion
- From the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead
- The Redeemer
- Heroes to Villains
- Gravestones & Coffins
- The Sacrifice for Truth
Watch “Bringer of Vengeance” official music video here:
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