This album turned out to be a little disappointing. Their previous album, The Opposite From Within (2004), was somewhat of a landmark Metalcore album, both more ferocious and more melodic than many records already out there.The Undying Darkness, however, sounds a little rushed. Not to mention, almost exactly the same as The Opposite From Within.
Sadly, this means there's not too much to say about this. Second album "I Rape Myself" has perhaps the only moment to raise an eyebrow. There's something delightfully irreverant about a beautifully sung chorus with the main refrain "I rape myself, but don't know why...". Not sure what it means, but it made me chuckle. Probably a metaphor for something, but not a very clever one.
So, Caliban are continuing to plod along in the Metalcore furrow, worn deep by the hordes of immitaters and copyists. The genre has lost most of its appeal, and bands really aren't doing enough to keep the listeners' attentions piqued.
Unfortunately, the album is very formulaic, and the riffs sound too familiar. Instead of pushing boundaries - something I'm sure the band could have pulled off with aplomb, if enough attention had been paid to the idea - the band have just redone their previous works.
The songs on The Undying Darkness will no doubt go across very well, live, with the requisite breakdowns, choruses we can holler along with, and riffs we can headbang along to. Sure, the album's perfectly produced, and the songs are well written. But, sadly, the spark of interest has largely gone. There's even the now-obligatory, gentle instrumental intro. Once, that was nice, but not it's just annoying. Mendeed and Coheed & Cambria can get away with them, because theirs are substantial and actually examples of superior song-writing nous, but when you have someone randomly plinking away on a keyboard... well, it's just annoying.
Ferocious. Fast. Formulaic.
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