KATAKLYSM

Rickshaw Theatre rattles as Kataklysm deliver a crushing, high‑speed masterclass in modern Canadian metal

Metal fans love to argue about Canada’s “Big Four,” tossing around names like Razor, Sacrifice, Voivod, Exciter, Annihilator — the usual suspects. But somehow Kataklysm always slips out of that conversation, which is wild considering they’ve dropped 15 albums, toured relentlessly, and even snagged a Juno Award in 2016 for Best Metal/Hard Music Album. If that doesn’t earn a seat at the table, what does?

Tonight, the Montreal death‑metal veterans returned to Vancouver for their first proper headlining show in a decade. Yes, they played the Ghost Festival in 2024, but that was a support slot under Septic Flesh and Decapitated. This time, at the Rickshaw Theatre — with local crushers Sinned, plus Wormhole and Six Feet Under — Kataklysm are back in full spotlight.

Formed in 1991, the band still boasts two founding members: Maurizio Iacono on vocals and Jean‑François Dagenais on guitar. Long‑time bassist Stephane Barbe (since ’98) and drummer James Payne round out the lineup. Their latest album, Goliath (2023), is still fresh, and rumours say new material is brewing. They did drop a standalone single, The Rabbit Hole, last year — but nothing since.

After a quick stage setup and tuning session, the band disappeared, only to storm back five minutes later in full black attire. They detonated the night with “Prevail” (2008), a classic Kataklysm opener that immediately reminded everyone why this band’s reputation for sheer force is well‑earned. If you got tossed around in the pit during that one, “Soul Destroyer” didn’t offer any mercy.

When they launched into “Goliath”, Jean‑François’ guitar tone carved through the room like industrial machinery. His Kemper rig gets close to the old Randall amp days, but longtime fans will always notice the difference. Still — the man’s tone remains one of the most distinct in Canadian metal.

Visually, the band delivered too. Their synchronized headbanging, constant side‑switching, and crowd‑focused stage movement kept the energy high. The only disappointment? Vancouver didn’t show up. The top deck wasn’t even open. Rickshaw, where were you? You missed a killer performance.

Kataklysm’s songs fly by at breakneck pace — most around the 3.5‑minute mark — and Maurizio made it clear early on: “We’re not talking much tonight.” True to his word, after “Thy Serpent’s Tongue”, they were already six songs deep in just 25 minutes.

The setlist hit all the staples: “Push the Venom,” “The Resurrected,” “As I Slither,” and the night’s standout, “Crippled & Broken.” If there’s one critique, it’s that we’ve heard all of these before. Even the Goliath tracks — “Bringer of Vengeance,” “Die as a King,” “Goliath” — were played here in 2024. Guys… you’ve got a whole album. Throw us a curveball. Dig deeper. Surprise us.

The final trio — “At the Edge of the World,” “Narcessist,” and “Black Sheep” — were neck‑wreckers, closing the night with pure, unfiltered aggression.

Kataklysm delivered an unrelenting, no‑frills, all‑muscle performance. Chugging guitars, pounding bass, rapid‑fire drums, and Maurizio’s sandpapered death growls left the Rickshaw in ruins. Did we get anything new? No — not even The Rabbit Hole, which felt like a missed opportunity. But with a new album on the horizon, the next tour will likely bring fresh material, and I’m genuinely curious where they steer their sound next. Stick with the death‑thrash hybrid? Push into something new?

Whatever direction they take, we’ll be there. And if they roll through your town, go see them — Kataklysm remains one of Canada’s most criminally underrated heavyweights.

Setlist:

1. Prevail
2. Soul Destroyer
3. Goliath
4. Die as a King
5. Thy Serpents Tongue
6. Push the Venom
7. The Resurrected
8. In Shadows & Dust
9. As I Slither
10. Bringer of Vengeance
11. Crippled & Broken
12. At the Edge of the World
13. Narcissist
14. The Black Sheep