Kataklysm – Meditations

Label: Nuclear Blast  Playing Time: 39 Min  Release: 01st June 2018

Kataklysm have belonged to the (un)holy trinity of Death Metal for many years. Their release of a new album wakes similar expectations as the release of Cannibal Corpse or Amon Amarth. After a time-out of three years, the Canadians are presenting their 14th studio album. It has the quite strange name „Meditations “. It is strange because the „Northern Hyperblast“ has as much in common with meditation as a vegetarian with freshly made blood sausage.

The beginning fulfills all expectations: a fast but also melodic and catchy song called ‚Guillotine‘. Especially the lead guitar makes this one great. Very good! The following ‚Outsider‘ works similarly and is also very good. But I can not explain what happens after this double whammy. Not only the speed is being reduced, but also the quality. Most of the following songs feel like unfinished demo versions. Not in terms of sound, but in terms of quality. So „Meditations“ stumbles until ‚What Doesn’t Break Doesn’t Heal‘ and ‚Achilles Heel‘, which are both a bit better.

Summa Summarum, „Meditations“ has become a mediocre work. In case of a newcomer band it would be ok, but not for a genre leading band!

www.kataklysm.ca