Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Caliban / Heaven Shall Burn - The Split Program (2000)

I was hoping for a slightly better follow-up to Caliban's debut on their side of this EP, but what do I end up getting? A more generic-sounding melodic death/metalcore split EP with some of its entertainment value. The other band hasn't been great either, after reviewing one of that band's albums a couple years ago...

The intro is sampled from a composition used for the 1992 Dracula film, a great atmospheric build-up. Then a good thrash/groove riff rises after a great scream beginning the first real song "Assassin of Love". There are two f***ing brilliant breakdowns, but afterwards, the song sounds a bit draggy. "A Summer Dream" is just weak thrashy melodeath-metalcore, with only the intense vocals not sounding lame. The riffs really need faster speed and sharper changes for the genre to work.

The intro of "Sunday's Words" is nice, but the rest is weak-sounding metalcore, and not the thrashy melodic-ish kind I prefer. Their cover of Heaven Shall Burn's "Partisan" is very good though. Then the outro is an audio sample from Pulp Fiction.

I just can't say anything about Heaven Shall Burn's side of the EP. I mean, some parts sound raw and good, but there just isn't any great or mentionable. Except the vocals that are once again the best aspect, ranging from good growls to great screams. However, the structure is terrible, spoiled especially by the drumming. Metalcore is awesome, but they were missing a lot to learn. A real metalhead would skip most of the songs in the EP, and if they're up for better metalcore like I am, best to search elsewhere....

Favorites (only from Caliban's side): "Assassin of Love", "Partisan"