Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 07/26/2005
This split album begins with a six-pack of tunes from
Heaven Shall Burn, who waste no time after an
industrial opening to break out into the heavy and hard
"Unleash Enlightment." Lead singer
Marcus Bischoff blends his singing with a guttural wail at times, while the twin guitars pump out solid
metal riffs. Think of groups like
At the Gates and
Earth Crisis and you will get the picture here. They are also capable of thick and beefy nu
metal arrangements. Loud and punishing throughout,
Heaven Shall Burn tear into
"No One Will Shed a Tear," which has a strong but pedestrian-like groove running through it. The odd song is the tender,
Faith No More-ish orchestral instrumental
"Nyfędd Von," which has more in common with
Sigur Rós than
Metallica. It's an aberration, however, once the hellish
"If This Is a Man" rears its primal
hardcore metal head. The highlight of the group's offering is the simple but shining performance of
"Downfall of Christ," with a great chorus and drummer
Matthias Voigt working triple time.
Caliban's sound is more intense and, if possible, harder on their leadoff song,
"The Revenge." Singer
Andy Dorner's thick accent makes some of the lyrics harder to understand. What isn't difficult to know is that the group's rhythm section is the key to most songs, particularly the punishing
"Arena of Concealment" and
"One Day," which digs deep for its militaristic feel ą la
"One" by
Metallica.
"A Summer Dream" might have been a dream song at one point, but there are too many turns throughout the song to give it a level of consistency. It's as if they've mixed
metal with
emo on this track, with the results being average at best.
~Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide
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