Review Summary: All the right elements…
Caliban’s
Elements is a ferocious testament to two decades of German metalcore. But for all the “guns blazing, balls out” attitude their newest offering possesses,
Elements still doesn’t capitalise on the potential this band has had for years. You’d think eleven albums in, Caliban would have achieved a success that would have launched them into undeniable stardom? Instead
Elements adds another release to the “okay” pile.
Consider the band’s overall consistent performance from record to record; it’s part in parcel how the band write their music. “This Is War”, the album’s opening piece sets fire to the speakers. A mosh inducing, head banging display of vehement riffs and blistering percussion sets the very tone of Andy Dorner‘s rage filled screams. Anthemic screams of “violence” reverberate throughout the track, making it hard to simply not enjoy this track for what it is… an absolute banger.
Unfortunately it’s from here that we see the usual Caliban consistency come into play.
Elements grades on a bell curve, and it’s slightly lopsided. Decidedly, the music remains consistently good and while complaints come mainly from the unachieved potential, Caliban continue the same patterns and maintain their consistent run. Tracks like “Set Me Free” and “I Am Fear” continue with the same pissed of punch-fest found in the opening track but fail to expand on the motif. It’s the equivalent of watching a classic movie and having one annoying guy point out all the holes in the plot. Seriously, how did Andy get that poster back on the wall after escaping his prison cell in
The Shawshank Redemption? As much as you admit to liking it, there’s still some pretty obvious flaws to be found without too much effort.
Thankfully the album does have a few moments that stand above the Caliban average. The nu-metal inspired “Carry On” brings out the Linkin Park fan in the band’s listeners as a host of half spoken, quasi-rapped lines break up the track’s overall intensity allowing piano chimes and slight electronica to highlight some willingness to experiment within this stereotypical formula. As cliche as the songs “elements” are, it’s certainly welcome here. Another highlight comes in the form of “Masquerade”. If Caliban were ever guilty of making a solid, catchy metalcore tune they’ve easily outdone the standard here. Brian “Head” Welch (of Korn fame) lends some primal screams to the track, perfectly accenting the climax of the song’s chorus lines, without hijacking Caliban’s sound.
From here though listeners have to put up with the standard Caliban fare. Yeah, it’s good, passable metalcore but that’s where the bus stops. With fifteen tracks coming short of an hour’s run time,
Elements could do with a good old fashioned trimming. If Caliban focuses on fleshing out the ideas on the album’s better songs and maintained a ten to twelve tracked affair this could easily be considered the best release of the group’s twenty year career. As it stands it’s yet another display of consistency from a band that should have fluctuated in both directions by now. Caliban have become stagnant release to release. With little to no experimentation, and a certain unwillingness to progress past musical perdition, there is no doubt Caliban will continue with more of the same. Overall, Caliban have proved they have the right
Elements, now to work on that underlying potential.
