If you’ve ever attended a headlining run by one of the crushing bands on the circuit and wondered what the hell they were thinking when it came to the selected opening acts, I can assure you that you will not be musing anything of the sort when it comes to the “Meditations Over North America” from Kataklysm. This tour is an exciting one and you can learn more about it via the official press release down below. Don’t worry I will return at the close.
The Press Release:
Montréal based melodic death metallers KATAKLYSM will kick off their Meditations Over North America 2019 tour on September 4th in Joliet, IL. The 21-date trek will make stops Portland, Dallas and Baltimore before concluding in Worcester on September 26th. Joining the band as social guests Thrash legends and label-mates EXHORDER, Death Metal kings KRISIUN and San Francisco Bay Area thrashers HATCHET.
KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono comments, “It took a while for us to get a full North American tour put together for Meditations due to an extensive schedule and also the arrival of my little boy earlier this year. But, we are finally here and with a hell of a package this time. We are very excited to share the stage with the legendary EXHORDER; Slaughter of the Vatican is one of my all time favorite records. And to round off the package having our brothers in KRISIUN with us and the thrash outfit HATCHET is gonna make this a memorable tour. We will play a varied set of the bands discography and of course. our latest album Meditations, all wrapped up in a devastating live show as only KATAKLYSM can deliver. It’s gonna be sick. See you all very soon.”
KATAKLYSM is touring in support of their highly acclaimed thirteenth studio album Meditations. Produced by the band’s own guitarist J-F Dagenais and drummer Oli Beaudoin, the record was mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR a.o.). Mastering duties were handled by Paul Logus (PANTERA a.o.). Watch the music video for “…And Then I Saw Blood” created by acclaimed Romanian visionary artist Costin Chioreanu here: https://youtu.be/7-a5D7YIrdU
Ticket for the tour will go on sale on Wednesday, June 12 at 10AM local time.
The Tour Dates:
Sep. 04: Joliet, IL – The Forge
Sep. 05: Cave-in-Rock, IL – FULL TERROR ASSAULT
Sep. 06: Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
Sep. 07: Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
Sep. 08: Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
Sep. 10: Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Sep. 11: Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
Sep. 12: Oakland, CA – Metro Opera House
Sep. 13: Los Angeles, CA – Union
Sep. 14: San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick
Sep. 15: Mesa, AZ – Club Red
Sep. 16: El Paso, TX – Rockhouse Bar & Grill
Sep. 17: Austin, TX – Come and Take it Live!
Sep. 18: Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
Sep. 20: Cincinnati, OH – Riverfront Live
Sep. 21: Atlanta, GA – TBC
Sep. 22: Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
Sep. 23: Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel
Sep. 26: Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
Sep. 25: Reading, PA – Reverb
Sep. 26: Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Born in 1992 from the cold winds of Montréal, Québec, Canada comes one of the country’s top extreme musical exports to date: KATAKLYSM. With a career spanning 25 years, KATAKLYSM is a leading force in the most brutal & powerful genre in heavy metal and has conquered territories such as Europe, North & South America, Australia, and Asia while recently becoming the first Canadian metal band to ever play South Africa.
They’ve spent the last 25 years cementing their legacy in the extreme metal genre. 2016 marked a whirlwind of excitement as the band added a Juno Award to their collection as well as landing their highest Billboard charting. They are one of a handful of bands that have the title of “Longest Standing Artist” on the Nuclear Blast roster.
Are you an outsider? Post your own clip of what makes you an outsider to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #iamanoutsider and get reposted, retweeted or shared on the KATAKLYSM social pages!
KATAKLYSM is: Maurizio Iacono | Vocals; Jean-Francois Dagenais | Guitar; Stephane Barbe | Bass; Oli Beaudoin | Drums
ABOUT EXHORDER: EXHORDER’s enduring legacy began in the mid-80’s when they defined the sound of Louisiana thrash and groove metal. Their initial formation was short lived, lasting nearly a decade with two critically acclaimed, classic albums, but their impact on the metal genre can be felt through a generation of bands that followed. EXHORDER dissolved in the mid-90’s but briefly reunited in 2011. Now, the band has returned to reclaim their throne of NOLA metal with their awaited new album and an all-star line-up that includes Kyle Thomas (founding vocalist; TROUBLE, HEAVY AS TEXAS), Vinnie La Bella (founding guitarist), Marzi Montazeri (guitarist; ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PHIL ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, HEAVY AS TEXAS), Jason VieBrooks (bassist since 2011; HEATHEN, GRIP INC.) and Sasha Horn (drummer; FORBIDDEN).
ABOUT KRISIUN: Once in a while during a band’s career, there comes the moment when you look back and reevaluate your body of work. Such self-criticism can either lead towards an overhaul of one’s stylistic palette or increased awareness for what you truly are. Considering Brazilian death metal brothers KRISIUN, such an analysis can cause quite a dilemma. Active since 1990, and renowned for such furious classics as the rabid Black Force Domain (1995), 2000’s constantly blasting masterpiece Conquerors Of Armageddon, and the merciless yet memorable Southern Storm (2008), the band’s trademarks have always been insane tempos, almost inhuman drumming and Lemmy-like roaring vocals negating any sense of ‘hooks’ or ‘melody’. And, let us face it – while KRISIUN have become extremely technical and more varied in terms of grooves and rhythms over the years – they are forever committed to deliver the full-on-death-metal-assault that made the group legendary in the first place. Still, after 2015’s Forged in Fury, Alex, Max and Moyses realized a different approach was necessary. “It was a bit of a complicated album,” singer/bassist Alex Camargo admits. For Scourge of the Enthroned, KRISIUN’s 11th studio album, the group decided to head for a faster and extremely savage record again. Once the album kicks off with the title track, KRISIUN’s newest opus hits with an urgency and immediate force that even harkens back to the debut!
As KRISIUN is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2020, it’s only fair we now appear as horrifying ancient death metal gods on the cover, haha!” Lyrically, the album however does not dig too deep into myths as Camargo confirms: “We deal with religious fanaticism, war, and the tragedy of the refugees, who flee from the fighting in their home countries to end up drowning in the sea or being treated like dogs in the western countries. Reality offers a lot of topics to write pissed off death metal!”
ABOUT HATCHET: Fueled by the twin guitar attack of vocalist Julz Ramos and Clayton Cagle, bassist Devin Reiche, and drummer Ben Smith, Hatchet have built a name and reputation for themselves carrying the torch of classic Bay Area Metal, through three prior full-length releases of high-energy, intense Thrash, (including their 2008 METAL BLADE debut AWAITING EVIL, 2013’s DAWN OF THE END, and their latest THE END RECORDS’ offering, 2015’s FEAR BEYOND LUNACY) and countless tours supporting names like Metal Church, Flotsam and Jetsam, Soilwork, Warbringer, Act of Defiance, Exmortus, Doyle, DRI and more. The follow-up to 2015’s FEAR BEYOND LUNACY, DYING TO EXIST promises to be the band’s heaviest and most focused release to date.
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PiercingMetal Thoughts: This bill sure does seem to pack a punch and I am going to do my best to be a part of it. I just don’t know what the venue Market Hotel in Brooklyn is. Maybe this is going to be the new name for the Brooklyn Bazaar which I am understanding is for sale now. I’ve seen the headlining Kataklysm a number of times over the years and the same can be said for Krisiun and Hatchet but Exhorder is a brand new band for me to enjoy. Sure they might have been a group from long ago but I missed them completely somehow and will finally get to catch up with those who are in the know. What about you readers? What do you think about this tour and will you attend one or more of the shows? Chime in down below in the comments section. See you next time.