Few gems survive generic writing

Hardcore fans rejoice as Caliban returns to the scene with their 2018 effort, Elements. The German hardcore metal act got their start with the 1999 LP, A Small Boy and a Grey Heaven and have altered their sound in a big way since then. Starting their careers as a fast, brutal and unpolished act, Caliban now gives off a different sound in an effort to match modern metal.

With a sound that now mimics newer Northlane records, Caliban transitioned to a more polished, crisp and meticulous metal sound that is much clearer in production value. Although this new style is proof of the band’s progression, it unfortunately breeds a rather generic result.

The first thing about Elements that really jumps out is that Caliban takes on a much more linear song structure on the work as opposed to previous efforts. In songs like “Intoxicated,” this is pleasing to the ear as the band uncharacteristically treats the listener to soaring choruses. That proves to be a real focus for Caliban throughout Elements, but after a while, the formula loses its luster only to be revived by peppered-in breakdowns.

The track, “Ich blute fur Dich,” is a perfect example of that. This song once again throws a grandiose chorus at the listener and follows up with a deep breakdown. Although that is a staple of hardcore music, every song on the album seems to follow that same trend, making it a numbing experience to listen to the LP all the way through. Even though the breakdowns are magnificent in some songs, the full songs themselves are rather hard to differentiate from each other.

The tracks that manage to stand out on Elements are rooted in groovy riffs. “My Madness,” “Incomplete” and “Intoxicated” have clearly defined trajectories in their instrumentation and are positively almost danceable in their opening phrases. However, Elements is a lengthy album that totals 15 tracks. The other 12 on this LP are hard to remember. Caliban does well at incorporating this new modern hardcore style, but they are not able to draw the lines needed and vary it up from song to song.

Following the trends of modern hardcore metal is not a bad thing, but Caliban seem to have failed to customize the genre in order to make it their own. Elements is not by any means a shoddy effort, it just lacks depth in its songwriting. Some songs excel in this new direction, while others blend together in their deep-seated similarities. Although Elements may not be a home run, it certainly piques interest as to what’s next for Caliban.