Album Review: Kataklysm – Goliath (Nuclear Blast Records)

Melodic death metal legends Kataklysm make their much-anticipated return with ‘Goliath,’ their fifteenth full-length studio album. It will be released on August 11th, 2023, via Nuclear Blast.

The giants of the melo-death scene are back and showing no signs of slowing down or putting out something with diminishing qualities. It’s hard to say that Goliath is the best thing Kataklysm have ever put out, because of that immense back catalogue, but it’s certainly in the conversation when it comes a complete wall to wall banger. From beginning to end, Goliath delivers hearty and heavy metal that is familiar to both fans of this band and the melo-death scene in general.

Yet, few do it better, and from the moment the snarling, scathing, and sneering savagery of Dark Wings of Deception and the feral ferocity of the title track arrive, most will be completely on board. Kataklysm are back and they are sounding more intense, more powerful, and more creative than ever.

As creative as they can be on this album, and they really are, there’s a ton of enjoyment still be found in more straight-forward head-bangers like Die as A King. Talk about a well-oiled machine, this is Kataklysm at their most addictive sounding.

The chuggy intro of Bringer of Vengeance will have everyone gurning in anticipation for the hectic heaviness that follows. Whereas Combustion doesn’t mess around, Kataklysm’s riffs cutting through a miasma of meaty percussion. Before From the Land of The Living to The Land of The Dead sees the group lean into older death metal territories, while finding new reserves of intensity to smash the listener over the head with. The vocals aren’t as much sung as they are spat out.

With touches of wandering and chilling melody, The Redeemer makes for an exciting listen. Kataklysm returning to the melo-death days of old, while still focusing on speed and heaviness. Then Kataklysm say to hell with all of that, here is something liable to melt your face. It’s Heroes to Villains and it is fiery. Before varying up the tempo for something a little ‘groovier’ in the form of Gravestones & Coffins, albeit with the remarkable brutal edge that dominates this album.

Finally, this incredible showcase of modern Kataklysm form ends with the biggest track of all, The Sacrifice for Truth. Think about what you know about Kataklysm and melo-death in general, then add a refinement that can only come from being on your fifteenth full-length release. It’s every bit the melo-death epic any fan could hope it to be, while being as savage as ever.

Long live Kataklysm.

Kataklysm – Goliath Track Listing:

1. Dark Wings of Deception
2. Goliath
3. Die as A King
4. Bringer of Vengeance
5. Combustion
6. From the Land of The Living to The Land of The Dead
7. The Redeemer
8. Heroes to Villains
9. Gravestones & Coffins
10. The Sacrifice for Truth

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