Epic: The Poetry of War
Kataklysm · 2001
39 min · 9 tracks · death metal
A relentless blend of aggressive riffs and orchestral elements evokes a grand narrative of conflict and human struggle.
Top tracks — play these first
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Il Diavolo in Me — This opening track sets the tone with its ferocious energy and intricate guitar work, immediately drawing listeners into the album's thematic depth.
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What We Endure — The track combines haunting melodies with crushing rhythms, encapsulating the album’s exploration of suffering and resilience against adversity.
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When Time Stands Still — Closing the album, this epic piece features an expansive arrangement that highlights both lyrical introspection and musical complexity, leaving a lasting impression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive death metal with orchestral elements, creating a unique sound that stands out within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that features rapid drumming and aggressive guitar riffs, establishing a high energy level.
- Orchestral elements are introduced in the second track, blending seamlessly with the heavy instrumentation to create a dramatic atmosphere.
- Several tracks feature tempo changes, alternating between blast beats and slower, more melodic sections that enhance the narrative quality of the music.
- The final track concludes with an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering sense of resolution.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- thought-provoking lyrical themes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2001, Epic: The Poetry of War marked Kataklysm's fifth studio album and showcased their evolution within the death metal genre. This album followed their commercial breakthrough with 1999's In the Arms of Devastation, establishing them as leaders in melodic death metal during the early 2000s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cryptopsy· Dying Fetus· Nile
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Il Diavolo in Me 3:25
- 2 Damnation Is Here 4:34
- 3 Era of the Mercyless: Roma, Part 1 3:31
- 4 As the Glorious Weep: Roma, Part 2 4:12
- 5 Shivers of a New World 4:07
- 6 Manipulator of Souls 3:42
- 7 Wounds 4:54
- 8 What We Endure 4:56
- 9 When Time Stands Still 6:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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