Much has changed since the release of the band’s last full-length LP in 1996 entitled Temple Of Knowledge. The disgruntled band parted ways with German record label Nuclear Blast, grisly bear vocalist Sylvain Houde left the band to pursue other musical interests, drummer Nick Miller left to join Anal Blast and was replaced by former skinsman Max Duhamel, bassist Maurizio Iacono took over the vocals and the band hired Stephane Barbe as the band’s new full-time bassist. The line-up was not the only thing to change, as a matter of fact, along with the shuffling came a huge musical change. Gone are the band’s mystical lyrics, musical trilogies, brutal anger and deep evil vocals, replaced with more down to earth and personal lyrics, a hardcore groove and vocal style. Don’t pick up this album expecting to hear what you’d hear of them in the past, this is like night and day. It’s like comparing Metallica’s Master Of Puppets to Load, it’s not even the same band, only the name remains the same. With all of that said, it’s time to review the actually music of their new release. I have to admit to not being a fan of earlier Kataklysm, so in some ways I find the newer material to be a bit of a refreshing change. The music has much more of a fan-friendly groove with the same basic core of musicians who wrote the earlier material, so the group is obviously skilled, however on this release they dumbed things down, opting for power chords, rather than technical skill to get them through the album. Maurizio uses a vocal style that fits the music well, from a Barney Greenway type bellow, to a decent attempt at singing to his infamous high shriek which he’s been perfecting since The Death Gate Cycle Of Reincarnation. "As My World Burns", "A View From Inside" and "Embracing Europa" are all strong tracks and worth a listen. Throughout the album the band does show glimpses of the sound which made them successful, yet show a completely different side to themselves on the softer tracks such as "Remember" and the instrumental "World Of Treason II", which sounds nothing like the original "World Of Treason" on the band’s Sorcery CD, which, in my opinion, was one of the finest instrumental tracks I’ve heard to date. Fans of early Kataklysm should probably avoid this release, however open-minded fans into hardcore and death metal may want to give Victims Of This Fallen World a chance, it may surprise you.

Written By: Teufel