Caliban

German deathcore band Caliban was formed in 1997, and signed almost immediately with Lifeforce Records, which released their eponymous EP the very next year. A hard-working bunch, the band then embarked on a relentless touring and recording schedule, traveling as far as America and Japan while intermittently putting out records like 1999's Small Boy and a Grey Heaven, 2000's split CD with labelmates Heaven Shall Burn, 2001's Vent, and 2003's Shadow Hearts. All of this hard work gradually built Caliban's following and certified them as one of the leading European purveyors of metallic hardcore, which, by then, had also made incredible strides across the pond thanks to bands they had influenced such as Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage. In fact and rather ironically, Caliban's next effort, The Opposite from Within (2004), was wisely panned by critics for succumbing to parody of those very same bands they'd inspired; but the band recovered in time for 2006's The Undying Darkness, which saw longtime members Andy Dörner (vocals), Denis Schmidt (guitar/vocals), and Marc Görtz (guitar) joined by the former Six Reasons to Kill rhythm section of bassist Marco Schaller and drummer Patrick Grün. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide