KATAKLYSM Singer Explains Dublin, Glasgow Cancellations

Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM were forced to cancel the band's shows in Dublin and Glasgow on December 21 and December 22 (respectively) due to circumstances beyond the band's control.

Comented singer Maurizio Iacono: "What a disappointment it was.

"What happened is simple: We didn't wanna make a big fuss out of it, but the hordes of angry Scottish and Irish fans contacting us wondering why we cancelled made me issue this update.

"We were 10 minutes away from the ferry to Ireland when our tour manager woke us up in the early morning telling us that the driver had been arrested because of overdrives and not taking the required rest time (in Europe a new law has come in six months demanding new restrictions and less road times for drivers. This law had been protested by drivers and they made an example out of us).

"Our driver was a cool cat, worked hard for us but he needed to get to Dublin in time so he broke the law and since it happened a few times on this tour, the bus records couldn't lie. So the officer (a douche bag, by the way) had no compensation and gave us the maximum fines which included arresting the driver and taking the bus, so we were stranded in Wales. Special thanks to the Rock The Nation organization who solved the problem extremely fast and got us and ABORTED a nice hotel and we waited for a new bus to pick us up the next day, which did but just a tad too late to make it in time to Glasgow. We will make it up next year — we won't forget!!

"Everything else is killer — the tour was a gem and we look forward to the Nuclear Blast festival this weekend and going back home to pound the U.S. and Canadian soil on the CHIMAIRA tour. It's gona kill!"

KATAKLYSM will hit the road in North America in November/December as direct support to CHIMAIRA. Some headlining dates during the "off" days will also be announced.

Unfortunately, bassist Stephane Barbe will not be able to make the trek on the CHIMAIRA tour due to an important family obligation (Stephane and his girlfriend are expecting their first child). He will rejoin the band on the three last dates of the tour for the Montreal, Toronto and Millvale shows. KATAKLYSM will be utilizing the services of Francois Mongrain, bass player of tech death metallers MARTYR, for the tour until Stephane can rejoin the group.

KATAKLYSM has recruited producer Jason Suecof (CHIMAIRA, TRIVIUM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) to mix the band's new album in early January. Entitled "Prevail", the CD will feature several guest appearances to be announced at a later date.

The album is scheduled for May 23, 2008 release via Nuclear Blast Records.

KATAKLYSM recently decided to "immortalize" the character that was featured on the cover of their most recent album, "In the Arms of Devastation", and have him re-appear as the main character — dubbed "The Heartbeast" — on their next offering, "Prevail".

Commented vocalist Maurizio Iacono: "We had so [much] killer feedback on the artwork but especially on the character that we decided to keep him as the band's fifth band member... kinda like IRON MAIDEN did with 'Eddie.' We have the perfect concept for the next album art... it will be bad-ass!"

Watch fan-filmed video footage of KATAKLYSM performing at Ninkasi Kao in Lyon, France on October 14, 2007;