Band:	Kataklysm
Album:	Prevail
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	May 23, 2008
A review by:	Baz Anderson

Disc I
01. Prevail
02. Taking The World By Storm
03. The Chains Of Power
04. As Death Lingers
05. Blood In Heaven
06. To The Throne Of Sorrow
07. Breathe To Dominate
08. Tear Down The Kingdom
09. The Vultures Are Watching
10. The Last Effort (Renaissance II) [Instrumental]

Disc II [Live At DeepRockDrive (DVD)] [bonus]
01. Like Angels Weeping The Dark
02. As I Slither
03. In Shadows & Dust
04. Crippled And Broken
05. The Ambassador Of Pain
06. Let Them Burn
07. Manipulator Of Souls
08. The Resurrected
09. Face The Face Of War
10. Where The Enemy Sleeps
11. The Road To Devastation
+ Taking The World By Storm [video]
+ Photogallery

From a relatively unknown death metal band in the mid-nineties, Kataklysm have now established themselves as both a popular and respectable death metal force and are about to explode onto the scene once more with album number nine. These Canadians have evolved a lot over the years; from a sloppy but inspired chaotic death metal splatter to this finely polished machine that stands in front of us today. The northern hyperblast have ground to make up due to the less than impressive previous album "In The Arms Of Devastation" but this is made up for with this tremendously redeeming slab of modern death metal.

This album sees Kataklysm revitalised and bursting with new found inspiration and power, "Prevail" is not an album that gets stuck with uninspired guitar riffs and mediocre songs, but this time we see Kataklysm make a gigantic step even further towards melodic death metal, as "Breathe To Dominate" and "The Vultures Are Watching" are certainly Amon Amarth-worthy on that front with the combined power and melody. The opening, and title track "Prevail" shows that although melodies may be weaving their way into the music, they are still more than capable of breaking your neck with a solid block of pounding, almost groovy death metal. This is still a very Kataklysm album with their trademark hyperblast style back to full strength, most of the songs on the album have their own defining points, and the whole thing is helped along with a clear but not overproduced production to bring out each riff, blast and growl.

Only setbacks are a few mediocre tracks that never seem to get going. Slower tracks such as "Taking The World By Storm" that take the whole melodic direction a little too far for comfort hinder the progress and flow of the otherwise powerful album. This is not technical or brutal death metal, but melodic death metal with a purpose and musically steady, solid line-up to deliver the album with intent.

There are enough highlights on this disc to make "Prevail" one of the best death metal releases of the year so far. Kataklysm are undoubtedly back on the right track to clear your minds of any negative thoughts that may have been festering since the release of the last album. This is an album with both crushing power in places all smothered with melodic guitar riffs and the trademark hyperblast drum work that is all backed up with an apparent burst of inspiration with the song writing. Although not entirely original sounding, the album is what it is, and does it in a way that pleasantly does not seem monotonous or recycled from previous works. "Prevail" does just that; it is a refreshing lease of life and welcome addition to the Kataklysm back catalogue and should not be overlooked for any reason.