(Melodic Death Metal / Groove) Kataklysm - Heaven's Venom (Digipak) - 2010, WavPack (image+.cue+scans) lossless

REM GENRE "Death Metal"
REM DATE 2010
REM DISCID 960BBE0B
REM COMMENT "ExactAudioCopy v0.99pb5"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
TITLE "Heaven's Venom (Digipak)"
FILE "Kataklysm - Heaven's Venom (Digipak).wv" WAVE
TRACK 01 AUDIO
TITLE "A Soulless God"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 00:00:00
TRACK 02 AUDIO
TITLE "Determined (Vows Of Vengeance)"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 05:42:65
TRACK 03 AUDIO
TITLE "Faith Made Of Shrapnel"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 10:31:00
TRACK 04 AUDIO
TITLE "Push The Venom"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 16:08:55
TRACK 05 AUDIO
TITLE "Hail The Renegade"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 19:36:18
TRACK 06 AUDIO
TITLE "As The Walls Collapse"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 00 25:02:34
INDEX 01 25:03:21
TRACK 07 AUDIO
TITLE "Numb And Intoxicated"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 29:54:35
TRACK 08 AUDIO
TITLE "At The Edge Of The World"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 00 33:20:47
INDEX 01 33:20:51
TRACK 09 AUDIO
TITLE "Suicide River"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 00 37:19:20
INDEX 01 37:20:02
TRACK 10 AUDIO
TITLE "Das Feuer Lebt (Bonus)"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 00 41:22:16
INDEX 01 41:23:04
TRACK 11 AUDIO
TITLE "Blind Saviour"
PERFORMER "Kataklysm"
INDEX 01 44:47:21

Canadian Death Metal legends Kataklysm officially formed in the fall of 1991, they released a now classic demo called Death Gate Cycle Of Reincarnation in 1992 that got world attention and a record deal with Germany's Nuclear Blast records, the band signed in 1993 and immediatly released the demo on CD format and added the bonus track The Orb Of Uncreation wich resulted in the creation of the critacally acclaimed MCD The Mystical Gate Of Reincarnation. Kataklysm gained world praise and recognition ...a new style and influence was born : the Northern Hyperblast ..and that was just the beginning! In 1995 the band releases theire first album entitled Sorcery wich quickly propelled Kataklysm as one of the new leaders and forces to be reckon with in the extreme metal scene!
The band follow up again with another hard hitting assault in 1996 with the release of the second full lenght album Temple Of Knowledge accompanied with a videoclip for the track The Awakener wich resulted in headliner tours and a bright future a head. With releases like Northern Hyperblast Live a limited edtion CD and the contreversial 3rd album Victims Of This Fallen World in 1998 the band showed divesity and explored new territory in wich Kataklysm found new ground to establish a new sound that soon that would pave the way for new classics to come!
In 2000 Kataklysm strike with a deadly weapon and 4th album called The Prophecy (Stigmata Of The Immaculate) an album that put Kataklysm on a new course and new horizons, that critics called one of the most devastating release in extreme music in years. With all eyes on Canadas finest export Kataklysm, the pressure was one..but thats when Kataklysm are theire most lethal! In 2001 a classic extreme album was born entiled Epic (The Poetry Of War), with a melodic edge backed by extreme roaring power. The bands 5th album has become Kataklysm's finest hour leaving critics stupified and the world begging for more!
So here we are today with tours in over 19 countries around the world, TV appearances expanding in 11 years of existence of blood & sweat, Kataklysm are back to proove that aging brings experience that make great leaders, Kataklysm are at the top of their form and have evolved into a powerhouse that will crush all and leave nothing but Shadows & Dust for the mortals to beg! Their 6th album to be released in fall of 2002! Once again handled in the true mercenary fashion of Kataklysm with a production that will leave you breathless. A new chapter is born.. a new era in extreme music.. be prepared for Kataklysm's deadly grip!! Here is what one of North Americas most respected writers has to say about this new masterpiece: "Like true Gladiators, Shadows And Dust tears at you with violent power, crude anger and the barefaced truth of somebody with nothing to lose. A hailstorm of musical swords, without the sorcery, Kataklysm are primed to 'Face The Face Of War' with their latest. This is a furious speed freak with enough doom and gloom to lock and load you for many years to come. Think In Flames huffing gas while classic Priest blares in the background. Shadows And Dust is beauty from a world viewed with revulsion and malice. Unlike anything they've done and a true succession, Kataklysm, once again, take the heaviest of music and add true weight and consequence. " Mitch Joel (Circus Magazine/Hour/Revolver online)
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/kataklysm#ixzz0zdO7wcYB

Review: metal-archives.com
For me, Kataklysm's output has been pretty hit and miss in recent years. I am usually as likely to enjoy any given Kataklysm track as I am to be completely underwhelmed by it. Like later AC/DC, Kataklysm keeps releasing albums that contain a couple of good tracks destined to become concert staples, while the rest of the songs on the albums are soon forgotten by all but the group's most devoted fans. With Heaven's Venom, Kataklysm succeeds in breaking its streak of spotty albums. That's not to say that Heaven's Venom is a work of genius, but it's certainly an improvement over their recent output and quite possibly Kataklysm's most enjoyable and consistent release since 2002's Shadows and Dust.
The first half of Heaven's Venom is more or less standard Kataklysm. The first few songs sound like some of the better material on the most recent albums. There's plenty of grooving and catchy riffs like those found in "Determined (Vows of Vengeance)." There are also catchy choruses aplenty such as the unforgettable chorus of "Faith Made of Shrapnel." The band's (or maybe the label's) choice for the album's first single and video, "Push the Venom," is a decent track, but it is definitely the weakest on the album. Although this track is not terrible, it sounds the most like Kataklysm's weaker songs of late. Releasing this track as a single is definitely not putting the album's best foot forward and may give the impression to the curious listener that this album is just more of the same.
Despite a decent first half of the album, the second half of Heaven's Venom improves with a little more experimentation and more variety. Well, it's more experimental for Kataklysm anyway. Heaven's Venom takes a turn for the better beginning with album highlight, "Hail the Renegade." Cool blackened riffs, interesting rhythm patterns, spastic snare rolls, and a melodic bass solo all make this song a standout. With this track, Kataklysm actually makes a strong effort to keep things interesting, and it works. More variety helps other songs stay interesting and memorable too. For example, "As the Walls Collapse" uses harmony riffs and stuttering rhythms and grooves to its advantage, while "Numb and Intoxicated" utilizes an odd riff and a grooving pinch harmonic-laden chorus to stick in your head. "Suicide River" is proof that despite what Six Feet Under has taught us, "simple" can work very well when all of the elements are arranged properly. "Suicide River" and "Blind Saviour," two of the album's strongest songs, both use blackened melodic elements akin to Hypocrisy to close the album strongly. The use of melody is definitely a key strong point throughout the entire album, especially in the last half. Only "At the Edge of the World" causes a glitch in the progress of the last part of the album. It uses stock Swedish riffs (which I swear they must be selling in ten packs at Ikea these days) and a super-jock breakdown at the end of the song. (I can see the no-necks going apeshit in the pit already.) Despite these complaints, the song is still surprisingly strong.
While Heaven's Venom is exceptionally consistent, it rarely goes beyond just being a good release. There are really no amazing, jaw-dropping parts. But then again, that's not what we have come to expect from Kataklysm. For most metal heads, Heaven's Venom won't be an essential purchase. Actually, despite the fact that Kataklysm has improved immensely on Heaven's Venom, some people may still find this album to be just plain average and maybe even boring. However, if you have enjoyed any of Kataklysm's recent releases at all, chances are you will be pleased with Heaven's Venom. Heaven's Venom is destined to be a fan favorite, and surely more than just a couple of these songs will be in Kataklysm's live set for years to come.

Maurizio Iacono - Vocals (1998-) (1991-1998, Bass) (Nuclear Blast Allstars, Ex Deo)
Jean-François Dagenais - Guitars (1991-) (Ex Deo, Seized)
Stéphane Barbe - Bass (1998-) (Ex Deo)
Max Duhamel - Drums (1993-1995, 1998-2003, 2005-) (Ex Deo)
Session members:
François Mongrain - Bass (Martyr (Can), Ex Deo)