Album Review
Caliban - I Am NemesisCaliban – I Am Nemesis

Nothing compares to the extremely unexpected surprise I had when I received none other than the latest studio album from German Metalcore mob Caliban, these were a band that I used to listen to back in my youth from the split EP they released with Heaven Shall Burn right up until the release of 2006’s “The Undying Darkness” where I lost interest and stopped following the band. As far as I was concerned the band could have been disbanded or faded out but not only does receiving this record prove to me that the band are still going, after having a listen to me it shows the band are kicking more ass than ever before and have found a set of balls.

The last time I was listening to the band they were following the metalcore scene on its downfall, they used to have a not generic but followed the general universal metalcore structure of mildly chunky riffs with an even split of growling and clean vocal lines but it started to get to a point where I found it boring; thankfully for me they seem to have strayed away from that standard path and took a risk in following their own experimental urges and I must say it sounds fucking evil! “We Are The Many” is the records opening track, 10 seconds in I find myself jaw dropped and staring at my screen with nothing less than sheer shock; they’ve been hiding this side of themselves from us for how many years now?! The thickest, high octane, aggressive, evil sounding riff backed by some seriously menacing tones.

“The Memorial” ties their older material and style into it with the way it’s structured; the verses are still evil with thick riffs and menacing tones, the chorus however brings back the clean vocals back with less menacing tones, it’s their old style matured off the charts. This new use of electronic techniques and round up of stylistic inclusions across the many branches of metal have given them a distinctive edge, songs like “Dein R3Ich” and “Davey Jones” are songs that have rekindled both my love and faith in this band and with the latest announcement that they will be supporting Trivium and As I Lay Dying on their tour later on in the year I will with pleasure finally see them play a live show.

4.5/5

Review by James Webb
 Band Members
Caliban - Band
Marc Görtz
Denis Schmidt
Andy Dörner
Patrick Grün
Marco Schaller
 Track Listing
1. We Are The Many
2. The Bogeyman
3. Memorial
4. No Tomorrow
5. Edge of Black
6. Davy Jones
7. Deadly Dream
8. Open Letter
9. Dein R3Ich
10. Broadcast to Damnation
11. This Oath
12. Modern Warfare
 Band Related Links
Caliban Facebook
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?