Search - Caliban, Heaven Shall Burn :: Split Program 2

What A Treat

LeftManOut | TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL | 10/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Being a huge fan of Caliban, and a moderate fan of Heaven Shall Burn, when I heard the bands were doing another split together on Lifeforce Records, I only expected the best. And with this release that's exactly what you're going to hear. In fact I'll go as far as to say this is probably the best split I've heard in years. When I first got the cd I was a bit surprised to see that the bands had re-recorded earlier material on this release, however that only adds to the greatness of the cd. Some of my favorites songs by both bands, which were in questionable quality on older releases, have been re-recorded with great production, and completely overshadow the originals. Each band also offers some new material making the split a very worthwhile addition to your collection.



The first half of the split (1-6) is Heaven Shall burn. Note one song is an interlude ("Nyfodd Von"). I've never been a huge HSB fan, but they are definitely showcased on this release. We get two new songs ("Unleash Enlightment" and "No One Will Shed A Tear"), and three of HSB's best older songs re-recorded ("If This A Man", "Downfall Of Christ", "Destrouy Fascism".) The new songs are the real treat. "Unleash Enlightment" and "No One Will Shed A Tear" are easily two of the best songs I've ever heard the band produce, and if this is what is to come on their next album, I will be all ears. The three older songs have been re-recorded well, and all have a much more powerful tone and feeling then the originals did. Maybe because of the supremely better quality. At any rate HSB's half of the cd is great and definitely lays down the gauntlet for their friends in Caliban.



Caliban's half of the album more than overshadows HSB's though. I guess it will probably depend on which band you are a bigger fan of, but for me Caliban's half is just phenominal. Opening up with "The Revenge", their only new song, the band immediately commands your attention. "The Revenge" has some of the most intense riffs, and probably the best chorus I've ever heard these guys lay down. There's no absence of the heaviness though. If this is what's in store on the next album, then we are in for a treat. As for the rest of Caliban's arsenal, they have chosen to re-record probably my favorite old school song "Arena of Concealment", which appeared on their "Vent" album, along with three songs from their first eps, "One Day", "A Summer Dream", and "One More Lie". Hearing these songs in such lush quality is just awesome because some of the original versions just didn't have the presence the new versions have. They are definitely some of Caliban's heaviest material to date, and they made a wise decision to re-record them on this release. If you are a fan of the band, this split is worth picking up even if you don't like Heaven Shall Burn.



In the end I'm more pleased with this record than I ever thought I would be. Caliban's half alone was enough for me, but Heaven Shall Burn definitely doesn't let Caliban take the crown easily. Each band is alive and well and proves they're still out there writing beautifully heavy music, and doing it better than a lot of other bands out there. Another thing that makes this split pretty cool is that both of these bands are virtually unknown (at least in the U.S) despite the big roles they've played in the German metalcore scene. Pick this one up today, I promise no dissapointments."

Heavy Sh*t

Randall Reyna | Livingston, CA USA | 09/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this album is caliban at their best. their sound is a mixture between shadow hearts and opposite from within, and picks up where each laged. Caliban has one new song called the Revenge and its f**king awesome, the rest are remakes that i can say without a doubt were remade better. Heaven Shall Burn also remade some of their older songs and they kick. all in all this cd is a must have."