Caliban

Named after the wild and deformed slave in Shakespeare's "Storm," Caliban are five German musicians who, despite their young age, are already seen as veterans of the European metal-core scene. Emerging from Germany's Ruhr region, they have become one of the most important and influential bands of that genre within just a few years.

Formed in 1997 (under the name Never Again), Caliban signed to Lifeforce Records after recording a two-song promo tape. The release of their self-titled EP in the summer of 1998 helped to lay the foundation of Caliban's incredible success. Countless tours across Europe, including support gigs for bands like Morning Again, Earth Crisis, and Cro-Mags, strengthened their reputation and earned them an ever-increasing army of "apostles." Their full-length debut, A Small Boy And A Grey Heaven (1999), finally opened the door to fame and became a European metal-core classic. Even then, Caliban knew how to combine Slayer-esque, precise metal guitars with emotional hardcore shouting, thereby leaving their own distinct mark on that sound. Although initially seen as mix of Slayer, Poison the Well, and Hatebreed by the critics, Caliban didn't jump on the metal-core bandwagon just recently; rather, they led the way representing that genre at home and internationally.

The following split EP with their friends from Heaven Shall Burn was to become another metal-core classic. When the band's second album, Vent, came out in April 2001, it was also released on Imperium/Howling-Bull Records in Japan, which led to Caliban being invited to play at the famous Beast Feast 2001 in Yokohama together with Slayer, Pantera, Machine Head, Biohazard, and Morbid Angel.

Back from Japan, Caliban went on their first U.S. tour with Bloodjinn, followed by another U.S. tour with A Life Once Lost, Dead To Fall, and The Red Chord in the summer of 2002 and an appearance at the famous Hellfest in New York.

In August 2002, Caliban entered Woodhouse Studios in Germany to record their third full-length, Shadow Hearts. As third albums seem to make or break an act, expectations for this record were very high. Caliban did, however, manage to transcend all pressure to make a new metal-core milestone, introducing a new style of post-modern, destructive metal-core with an unparalleled sense of heaviness and musicianship.

This release saw a matured band moving further in the direction of harmony and melody without ever denying their metal and hardcore roots. The following tour in Japan with Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall strengthened their musical way, and it was their friendship with people like Mike D (Killswitch Engage bass player; who is now also designing T-shirts for Caliban) which helped to finally establish them in the U.S. metal-core scene.

In January 2004, Caliban entered "The Room" studios in Gothenburg, Sweden to record their fourth album, The Opposite From Within, which was produced by In Flames front man Anders Friden and mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (e.g. Machine Head, Killswitch Engage, Arch Enemy) at the Backstage Studio in the U.K.

As the result of a licensing deal with Roadrunner Records, the group's worldwide label, The Opposite From Within will be released in North America on Abacus Recordings on October 5. Fans can look forward to crushing breakdowns, tightly delivered drums, double-bass mosh attacks and hardcore bass lines, but also the band's keen sense of melody, all played with utter conviction throughout the 12-song outing. The fact that they are excellent, emotional and thoroughly honest musicians should open the doors for them worldwide. But let´s keep the last words to singer Andy Dörner and his lyrics in "The Beloved And The Hatred":

"A daring mixture of shelter and temptation
The one who dares will gain the blame
Lines weave into my heart
To tear it slightly apart
Where is your love?"