If you feel angry again, full of rage and you like dynamic tempo changes then this Caliban album is in your game. In The Opposite From Within you will find heavy guitars, angry vocals mixed with some melodic moments and many hardcore elements.
Let's go back to 1997, when Caliban started under the name of Never Again. In 1998 their demo signed them a deal with Lifeforce Records. After several gigs in Europe this German band finaly signed a contract with Roadrunner Records. This album is their fifth one, with an excellent heavy production, under the same label.
The first thing I noticed and stuck into my mind were the vocals coming from the group's frontman. Andreas Dorner has a really dirty, screamy way of singing these tunes with a passion that makes me scream along with him. Dude we are talking about heavy shit! Besides, this is a way of expresing himself and he also changed his vocal lines into clean vox, in many parts of the songs, which gives a three dimentional sound to the whole album. It's up to you to decide if you like it or not. From my point of view I think it wasn't necessary. From the very first moment you insert the CD into your player the drum section will make you bang all the time with power drums and dynamic tempo changes. Plus there is a stakato riffing approach that reminds me of At The Gates and The Haunted coming alive. Caliban of course have an excellent way of fitting all their hardcore ideas into their songs. Althought the whole work of this album is too close to Swedish Metal, these German guys have created a very powerfull and agrresive album. From the first track Caliban throw you right into their world with no remorse. Their anger also continues in the second song, Goodbye, which is probably based on Metallica influences. As the audition comes to an end the album still keeps the Heavy elements. I wasn't satisfied with the sound of guitars but the overall production rewarded me.
While I'm at it, I will grab a beer, sit down on my luxury couch, press play and freak out my neighbors...
- Album Highlights: The Beloved And The Hatred, Goodbye and the vocals.