Kataklysm

**Kataklysm** are a Canadian death metal band from Montreal, Quebec.

Kataklysm was formed in 1991. The band released their debut studio album _Sorcery_ on February 10, 1995 and their second full-length album on June 26, 1996. Lead singer Sylvain Houde left the band afterwards and Maurizio Iacono took over the lead vocals. Stephane Barbe was also recruited to the band during this time. Their third album _Victims of this Fallen World_ which was released on March 7, 1998, saw a change in musical style from Kataklysm's previous albums. They returned to their former style when they released _The Prophecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate)_ but it was less chaotic and with a little bit of thrash metal.

Iacono had vocal lessons for the death metal genre after he was complaining that he was losing his voice during or after the band performed concerts. Their fifth studio album _Epic: The Poetry of War_ was released on September 17, 2001. The album featured a little bit of a melodic approach to death metal however they did not step into the boundaries of melodic death metal. The band released their sixth studio album _Shadows & Dust_ on October 15, 2002. The album is considered to be one of the most successful albums by the members of Kataklysm because of the positive attention that the album received and the sales it gathered.

Their seventh studio album _Serenity in Fire_ was released on March 9, 2004. The album featured Martin Maurais temporarily replacing Max Duhamel on drums. Duhamel said that he forced out of the band because of injuries but recovered from his injuries and played with the band on their eighth album _In the Arms of Devastation_ which was released on February 21, 2006.

The band is known for using a frequently used drum pattern which they call "Northern Hyperblast". The band was ranked #7 on AOL Radio's list of the 10 best Death Metal bands.

## Band members

- Current
- Maurizio Iacono – vocals (1998–_present_), bass (1991–1998)
- Jean-Francois Dagenais – guitars (1991–_present_)
- Max Duhamel – drums (1994–1996, 1999–2002, 2006–_present_)
- Stephane Barbe – bass (1998–_present_)

- Former
- Stephane Coté – guitar (1991–1992)
- Ariel Saied Martinez – drums (1991–1992)
- Sylvain Houde – vocals (1991–1997)
- Nick Miller – drums (1996–1998)
- Jean-François Richard – drums (2002–2003)
- Martin Maurais – drums (2003–2004)

### Albums

- _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)

## Other websites

- Official website

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: Kataklysm
- **img**: Kataklysm Strasbourg 81007 01.jpg
- **img capt**: Annihilator performing in Strasbourg; June 10, 2007
- **img size**: 250px
- **landscape**: yes
- **background**: group_or_band
- **origin**: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- **genre**: Death metal, melodic death metal
- **years active**: 1991–_present_
- **label**: Nuclear Blast
- **associated acts**: Dechrist, Ex Deo
- **url**: [http://www.kataklysm.swizcorp.com/ Official website]
- **current members**: Maurizio Iacono
Jean-Francois Dagenais
Stephane Barbe
Max Duhamel
- **past members**: Sylvain Houde
Martin Murais
Nick Miller
Ariel Saied Martinez