Caliban The Opposite From Within

The first time I heard this record, I promptly shut it off and got rid of it. A few months later, I recieved a promo copy for review and decided to give it another shot. For some time, I considered Caliban to be among the premiere metal-core bands, showing up most of the other bands that played the genre with their inventive combination of Euro-metal riffing and traditonal breakdowns. While their unwillingness to rest on those laurels was certainly admirable, I can't say I'm a big fan of the direction they've chosen to take. On their latest release, they've continued adding clean choruses into just about every track, alongside ultra-slick production, leaving them sounding somewhere between Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying. The unfortunate circumstance of their evolution is that they just don't seem as well equipped to write the sort of songs they're shooting for on this release. The hooks are definitely catchy enough to be memorable, and the guitar work is accomplished enough to stand above most of their competition, but their two most recent records just don't hold the same power as their debut album and Vent. While holding a band's desire to grow against them is definitely unfair, it is only right to hold them to the same standard of quality, and in this case, Caliban's latest album simply does not match up. The moments of greatness are fewer and further between on The Opposite From Within than any of the band's previous releases. While soaring numbers like "Certainty...Corpses Bleed Cold" stand out as well-balanced combinations of progressive rock and metal, most of the disc's tracks feel like definite grasps at commercial success. If it works out, more power to them, as I cannot think of many other similar bands more deserving of the recognition, but I would prefer to recognize the greatness of their earlier work. As far as this brand of "metal" goes, there's a lot to like here and I suppose that will be enough for most listeners. Where this disc becomes difficult for me to stomach is the overall sound the band has chosen to implement. It bears a strong resemblance to the last two In Flames records, which is not altogether surprising as it was produced by Anders. While I know and accept that a lot of bands use drum triggers to balance their sound, there is very little attempt to keep them from sounding entirely lifeless. Perhaps this material would translate better for me in a live setting, but again, I think it is more likely that I would simply wish they would play their better material off Vent. Bottom Line: While Caliban's transformation hasn't been unexpected enough to bring their credibility into question, it has been drastic enough to make me lose most of my interest in a band I once considered among my favorite metalcore acts. Those loyal fans who want to pick up this disc shouldn't be entirely disappointed, as there is quite a bit of good material here, but overall I feel this disc is a bit lackluster. Anyone interested in discovering some excellent metal-core should check out Caliban's first two records. Anyone interested in hearing something equally remarkable should steer clear of this record.