Canadian death metal band that formed 1991, Montreal, Canada. Calling their style "Northern Hyperblast", Kataklysm's early work is characterized by vocalist Sylvain Houde's inhuman growls, shrieks, and the esoteric, mystical lyrics and themes that he wrote for the band. Houde departed sometime after the release of their third album Temple Of Knowledge (Kataklysm Part III), a change which saw the band shift gears; their 1998 follow up Victims Of This Fallen World utilized an altogether more melodic sound and lacked all mystical elements on the album with replacement vocalist and ex Bass player Maurizio Iacono's almost hardcore vocal delivery. Recordings since 2000 have seen Kataklysm return to its extreme Metal roots and the band continues to record in this style.