Artist: Caliban
Title: Coverfield EP
Genre: Metalcore
Release Day: 6th May 2011
Label: Century Media Records
Album Review
CALBIAN is a German metalcore outfit that started out pretty good, but for the recent years haven’t had much luck at winning a majority of their fan’s love. Whether it because their expectations have been lowered, or fans felt they sold out, CALIBAN have been in a bit of slump, pumping out generic metalcore that betrays their former diverse style and further alienates them from keeping a strong presence in the metal world. So, CALIBAN decided to do something a little different this time. Rather than spout generic metalcore for this brief EP, they went for four, short cover songs. Now, lots of metal bands have done cover albums; most recently CHILDREN OF BODOM with ‘Skeletons in the Closet’ and it doesn’t always result in a good album. But, with choices from THE BEATLES and RAMMSTEIN, who could really resist? As a result, some of these covers are actually decent.
The opening TYPE O NEGATIVE cover ‘My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend’ doesn’t really keep the gothic overtones of the former band’s doom metal style; instead CALIBAN turn it more into a rock metalcore fist pumping track that works for them, but butchers the original style. RAMMSTEIN’s ‘Sonne’ is perhaps the best choice because it sounds close to the original - except with much harsher vocals- and the band even keeps the haunting chorus choirs which really does CALIBAN credit. The AT THE GATES cover ‘Blinded By Fear’ wasn’t too hot a choice since the melodic death style is similar to CALIBAN’s, so to play the two side by side wouldn’t do that much. Finally, it comes down to THE BEATLES and ‘Helter Skelter’ which is a completely raw, hard hitting metal rendition of this originally Indie rock tune. It’s a nice attempt, but sounds too overdone; soft rock songs weren’t really meant to be remade as metal ones.
So basically CALIBAN is 2 out of 4 for decent music on this album. Cover songs are always iffy because they can either sound pretty bad due to the choice of artist, or it’s an excuse to put out material when they don’t really have much to create. SIX FEET UNDER was once known as a joke for their cover albums, but at least their death rock style had groove and complemented the classic rock and roll covers they chose. For CALIBAN to cover something that is completely off their musical spectrum as THE BEATLES with a metalcore style, or to choose something that is far too similar, like AT THE GATES, is not really the best choices. It seems gothic metal is more their route to cover, with the success of creating some great renditions of RAMMSTEIN and TYPE O NEGATIVE. Perhaps they should have fleshed out more songs from varied artists to explore their options to make this EP stronger, but for the most part it’s not the best place to start, or continue, with CALIBAN.
Tracklist
01. My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend (Type O Negative) - 3:48
02. Sonne (Rammstein) - 3:45
03. Blinded By Fear (At the Gates) - 2:35
04. Helter Skelter (The Beatles) - 3:38
Line-up
Andreas Doerner – Vocals
Marc Goertz – Guitar
Patrick Gruen – Drums
Denis Schmidt – Guitar & vocals
Marco Schaller – Bass
Website
http://www.calibanmetal.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 5
Sound: 4
Total: 4.5 / 10
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