Kataklysm

Vision the Chaos
Skyscraper

2 tracks; 12:03

8/10 – The hyperblaster’s when they were still in their nappies…

Man, this takes me back. Having been a Kataklysm fan since their inception, it comes as great surprise & pleasure that they decided to re-release this rare glimpse into the making of this Canadian Death Metal legend. ‘Vision the Chaos’ originally saw the light of day 11 long years ago, and you can tell (my how we have come a long way in the realm of engineering!) The 2 tracks on offer here sound as if they were recorded from vinyl, cos you can actually here the odd snap, crackle, pop and hiss - yet this is not a problem or a deterrent, it only adds to the experience.

The Northern Hypeblast that we have all come to cherish from these crazy canucks, can be found in its infancy on this release. It is actually a much thrashier affair than anything they have ever done before. I dunno, but it sounds very Slayerish. The only thing that constitutes this release as being Death Metal, would be the ultra-brutal vocals of original singer Sylvain Houde. If any of you are familiar with his work, you would know that he is a huge proponent of the vocal-effect. This guy achieves incredibly guttural tones with the help of pitch-shifters and such - and he makes it an interesting & fun listen! The riffs come flying at you aplenty, barely allowing any reprieve before the next assault. ‘Vision the Chaos’ is by far the most challenging & brutal release of its era, which proves that Canadian Extreme Music has always been & always will be at the cutting edge of the scene.

One last thought – could this release signify the comeback of the all-mighty original vocalist Sylvain Houde? Lets hope so, cos it would be a monumental event in Nothern Hyperblast history!!!!

Jason Deaville