"Shadow hearts" CD by Caliban

by Patrick Schmidt (01/03) Fat! The Hattinger Death/Hardcore formation, Caliban have exceeded themselves on this their third full-length album and meanwhile have an honourable international format. Their powerful mixture of Slayer-riffs, Earth Crisis, Hatebreed and Merauder hits you like a hammer, spreads pure aggression and features some unusual nuances. The singer not only roars and screams in best Hardcore-manner but also waves in some clean refrains that are, like in the case of "Forsaken horizon" or "The seventh soul" are really extremely good. That has class and style! Congratulation! Apart of that, what strikes me is the extremely fat sound with its ass-kicking drums and powerful riffs. "Shadow hearts" in my ears is one of the best German Death/Hardcore/Crossover albums in a long time and should show up in every collection. With this album, the quintet beyond any doubt reach the same level as their highly praised label colleagues, Heaven Shall Burn.