Kataklysm Family Tree
Metal Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Kataklysm are a Canadian death metal band that brings in more melodic and groove influences. Guitarist Jean-François Dagenais and former bassist now vocalist Maurizio Iacono have been in the band since the beginning. Stephane Barbe stepped in to play bass when Maurizio switched to vocals on the third album after Sylvain Houde was no longer in the band. As for drummers they have changed often having six different drummers that have recorded albums. I am uncertain of who contribute the most to writing and who doesn’t. This list will focus on Jean and Maurizio, I’ve haven’t found much from other members nor am I confidant that they have shaped the sound of Kataklysm that much.
Iron Maiden are one of the most influential metal bands known for their twin lead harmonies (and now triple lead). Maurizio named them as an influence saying a lot of their melody comes form them but Kataklysm does it in a darker way. Maurizio said that they are Jean’s favorite band.
Napalm Death are a pioneer of grindcore. Maurizio named them as an influence.
Metallica are the fathers of thrash. Maurizio said his first metal album was Kill ‘em All and changed everything for him.
Sacrifice were a Canadian thrash band. Jean said he was a big fan back in the day.
Testament are a bay area thrash band that has been very influential. Maurizio said he is a huge fan.
Bolt Thrower are a widely loved British death metal band. Jean named early Bolt Thrower as an influence.
Sacred Reich are an American Thrash band. Jean named them as an influence and they even covered “The American Way”.
Nuclear Assault were an big band in the East coast thrash metal scene. Maurizio named them as an influence.
Carcass started as a grindcore band before turning to death metal and then being pioneers of Melodic Death. Maurizio named early Carcass as an influence.
Dismember are Swedish death metalers. Maurizio named them as an influence.
Suffocation are a death metal band considered pioneers of brutal death. Maurizio named them as an influence, saying he was blown away by the vocals.
Deicide are one of the most well known death metal bands with their over the top blasphemous themes. Maurizio named them as one of his favorite bands.
Pantera changed the world of music with Cowboys From Hell. Jean named Dime as an influence.
Deftones are a “alternative metal” band that have very little to do with metal at all and come from more from new wave. Jean named guitarist Steven Carpenter as an influence.
Jean when asked about other Canadian bands he mentions liking Voivod and thrash band Sacrifice.
Maurizio talks about his mom playing Tom Jones and Elvis when he was very young. He later got into Metal, with Kill em’ All being his first metal album. He said he was also in to bands like Motley Crue and Guns ‘n’ Roses at the time. He said his first album was Thriller from Michael Jackson. He talks about respecting MJ on how he could guide his band into playing playing music he wanted just by singing the parts. He said he sometimes does the same and will call up the band and sing a riff idea.
Maurizio said they took some influence from the Gothenburg melodic death scene but most of their melodic influence comes from Iron Maiden. He says he considers Kataklysm a hybrid band that is in between death metal and melodic death metal.
Stephane is said to be a huge black metal fan, this is according to Jean I haven’t found his influences.
Sylvain Houde was the original vocalist for the first two ablums, I’m unsure of his influences.
Sources:
https://spotlightreport.net/on-the-spot-2/interview-jf-dagenais-of-kataklysm-talks-australian-tour
http://heavymetalhistory.libsyn.com/139-jean-francois-dagenais-kataklysm
http://www.therockpit.net/2013/INTERVIEW%20KATAKLYSM%20Jean-Francois%20Dagenais.php
https://www.therockpit.net/2019/interview-maurizio-iacono-kataklysm/
http://www.gryphonmetal.ch/InterviewKataklysm.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYUZayXVDEw
https://deadrhetoric.com/features/kataklysm-death-metal-outsiders/
http://www.metalcovenant.com/pages/interviews/interview_kataklysm.htm
http://carlbegai.com/2013/11/01/bwbk-interview-kataklysm-burning-your-soul-people-want-that-element-of-danger/