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THE REVIEW
Better strike while the iron is hot (and, since we're doing it, strike it as hard as possible before it cools down...).
The Caliban (a moniker with Shakespearean memory behind which hides an honest group of metalcore workers, not by chance hailing from the steel-making region of the Ruhr) must have thought something like this when they signed off their third work on Roadrunner (the 6th overall) in just three years.
Personally, after seeing them open for In Flames, I had the chance to appreciate their debut on a major label, "The Opposite From Within" (released during the peak of the metalcore explosion), while I was quite perplexed by the following "The Undying Darkness", due to a compositional formula that was already beginning to stale, and a tracklist where the best tracks embarrassingly resembled what had already been offered by others before them (the main riff of I Rape Myself is blatantly stolen from Meaning in Tragedy by As I Lay Dying).
I hadn't approached this "The Awakening" with high expectations, but I must admit, I partially changed my mind...
It begins with the first track and lead single I Will Never Let You Down whose structure (machine-gun riff - screamed verse - melodic chorus - mosh break) is as predictable as the plot of a porn movie but, to continue with the metaphor, it fulfills its purpose just as effectively, also by virtue of a truly powerful sound (more "In Flames oriented" than the records produced by Friden himself).
The rocky Let Go and the more melodic Another Cold Day don’t hold many surprises, and with My Time Has Come it feels like listening to As I Lay Dying from "Shadows Are Security", but it’s with the fifth track "Life Is Too Short" that things start to get serious: even in this case, talking about originality would be an exaggeration (at least this time it's the Diecast from the excellent "Internal Revolution" being invoked), but this piece has a truly amazing "drive," which will make it impossible for you to resist.
The rest of the tracklist flows quite compactly along the same sonic lines, although luckily the tension remains high until the end thanks to the good alternation between Andi's desperate screams and the inevitable clean vocals of guitarist Denis (as effective in the studio as lacking live), a particularly effective contrast in tracks like Rise and Fight or in the closing I'll Show No Fear.
Compared to the recent past, the only elements of "novelty" (even though the use of this term in the metalcore field can now be considered an oxymoron...) are represented by the sporadic use of electronics (handled directly by the new producer Benny Richer) and a greater introspection in the approach (noticeable in the instrumental title track), even if the compositional formula remains firmly anchored to the genre's canons.
In conclusion, we are facing an honest genre album that, while not miraculous (our friends Heaven Shall Burn remain on another planet), partially redeems the fate of the champions of European-made metalcore: if you have already worn out the latest albums by Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying and don't know how to pass the time waiting for the new release from the aforementioned H.S.B., this "The Awakening" could be for you, for everyone else... yet another Caliban-branded coaster to add to your collection!
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Summary by Bot
Caliban's 'The Awakening' offers a competent metalcore experience with strong riffs and good vocal dynamics but lacks originality. The album benefits from a polished production and sporadic electronics, making it a recommended listen for fans of the genre waiting for something new. While it doesn't surpass leaders like Heaven Shall Burn, it redeems some of Caliban's past missteps with a solid sixth album overall.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
11 Let Go (00:23)
12 Let Go (00:26)
13 Let Go (00:23)
14 Let Go (00:22)
15 Let Go (00:21)
16 Let Go (00:24)
17 Let Go (00:32)
18 Let Go (00:20)
19 Let Go (00:23)
20 Let Go (00:24)
21 Another Cold Day (00:26)
22 Another Cold Day (00:30)
23 Another Cold Day (00:28)
24 Another Cold Day (00:29)
25 Another Cold Day (00:23)
26 Another Cold Day (00:38)
27 Another Cold Day (00:27)
28 Another Cold Day (00:23)
29 Another Cold Day (00:25)
30 Another Cold Day (00:24)
31 My Time Has Come (00:36)
32 My Time Has Come (00:39)
33 My Time Has Come (00:24)
34 My Time Has Come (00:31)
35 My Time Has Come (00:41)
36 My Time Has Come (00:50)
37 Life Is Too Short (00:38)
38 Life Is Too Short (00:40)
39 Life Is Too Short (00:17)
40 Life Is Too Short (00:29)
41 Life Is Too Short (00:14)
42 Life Is Too Short (00:26)
43 Life Is Too Short (00:28)
44 Life Is Too Short (00:28)
45 Give Me a Reason (00:41)
46 Give Me a Reason (00:43)
47 Give Me a Reason (00:43)
48 Give Me a Reason (00:31)
49 Give Me a Reason (00:38)
50 Give Me a Reason (00:40)
51 Stop Running (00:28)
52 Stop Running (00:35)
53 Stop Running (00:32)
54 Stop Running (00:20)
55 Stop Running (00:11)
56 Stop Running (00:32)
57 Stop Running (00:39)
67 I Believe... (00:20)
68 I Believe... (00:29)
69 I Believe... (00:29)
70 I Believe... (00:26)
71 I Believe... (00:29)
72 I Believe... (00:29)
73 I Believe... (00:37)
82 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:25)
83 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:23)
84 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:23)
85 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:29)
86 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:29)
87 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:29)
88 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:32)
89 Nowhere to Run, No Place to Hide (00:25)
Caliban
Caliban are a German metalcore band formed in 1997 and active ever since, known for the growl/clean vocal interplay and a long run of albums from Shadow Hearts through The Awakening and beyond.04 Reviews
