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Straight forward, no compromises: That’s UNCONQUERED. Thundering with newly fueled power from the shadows and dust of humanity’s crumbling existence, KATAKLYSM return triumphant with their 14th full length studio album: UNCONQUERED. For almost 3 decades, the French-Canadian melodic death metal syndicate has delivered unapologetic waves of powerful sound across the entire globe. As of late, that globe has suffered tremendously, forcing the inspiration of many artists to extinguish, but for KATAKLYSM, the pressure caused a creative spring to burst forth with furious energy. Themes of fighting back and overcoming the insurmountable seethe through the lyrics and melodies of UNCONQUERED; consistent, sonic reminders of the battles that lead to triumph. Songs like the hostile first single “The Killshot” give definition to the steadfast existence of KATAKLYSM as a whole. Taking this album by the horns, the band had a desire to modernize what they were doing, and to be brutally honest, more so than ever before. The second single “Cut Me Down” is exponentially haunting and melodic. The song also includes guest vocals from Tuomas Saukkonen of the Finnish metal band Wolfheart. His powerful vocals accompany the track perfectly. Long nights, whether in person or from a distance, were spent writing and composing this album. KATAKLYSM fans will hear obvious moments that reflect back to the times of Shadows & Dust and Serenity In Fire; Straight forward, no mistakes, no compromises. “It’s so aggressive yet at the same time, easy to listen to,” describes Dagenais. These two elements combined create a murderous, power fueled combo, a deepness and dramatic overtone that is also incredibly uplifting. It is clear that every member of the band gave 200%, pushing themselves far beyond the normal realm of creativity to bring this album into existence. To assist in enhancing the depth of this sound, Dagenais decided to finally employ for the first time a 7 string guitar, something he’d been craving for quite some time. Like an elephant barreling through a tiny room, the 7 string brings extra punch and weight to the record, enhancing the richness and making it seem as if there are even more guitars playing. When it came time to record the album, Dagenais dove in furiously with an ingrained desire for perfection. “From the ground up, the first demos to the final thing, I didn’t want to have any regrets with this. I wanted to make sure there was nothing left behind, unfinished, no mistakes.” In addition to Dagenais’s clinical approach to the recording, KATAKLYSM hired on the legendary Colin Richardson, post retirement, to aid in the production of UNCONQUERED’s weightier sound. “We got lucky because he accepted to come back and do this album; the first death metal record he’s done since he retired,” recalls Iacono. With Chris Clancy’s technicality and precision assisting him, the end result of the sound of UNCONQUERED can not be understated. This resurgence of old school temperament and musical fury required a clean, and powerful piece of artwork to represent its arrival. The infamous heart beast, which also appeared on In The Arms Of Devastation (2006), Prevail (2008), and Heaven’s Venom (2010), makes its return with a cover image created by artist Blake Armstrong. This frightening and dominant being sears across a white universe, screaming in both triumph and agony. Not many bands have achieved what KATAKLYSM has in the span of their long and rigorous career, but what truly makes them stand them apart from the masses is seeing the world through truthful eyes, and creating the perfect musical landscape to describe it. With this new album, KATAKLYSM comes swinging at life with hope, and renewed energy even amidst the world’s current, chaotic state. These things combined with KATAKLYSM’s relentless and organic ability to create, are the roots of what has bestowed UNCONQUERED upon us.
