Caliban VS Heaven Shall Burn - The Split Program II - [LifeForce Records]

2005-08-08

An album with two of metal-core's most important artists is not something to be taken lightly.
Certainly with the first Split Program album being considered one of the genre's penultimate albums, giving rise to two metal-core legends.
That in mind, The Split Program II is a very different album then the first one.
Firstly, both bands have been through several line-up changes, making them somewhat unrecognizable in comparison with their humble beginnings.
Another facet is that the album contains very little original material, but that put aside, this is still a guaranteed classic of the genre.

Heaven Shall Burn open the proceedings with a punishing track, Unleash Enlightment, somewhat less aggressive then their first material, but still heavy and brutal deathcore, just as good is the second track, both with a sound to die for, every metal-core's band dream, third installment is a short instrumental piece, by the same guy who did similar bits for the band's last studio album.
After that they take on songs by other legendary artists, such as Marauder's Downfall Of Christ, a classic track by the famed NY outfit, and Destroy Fascism, by veteran Dutch band Antidote.

Caliban, on the other hand, deliver one great original track, and then re-record several tracks from their previous albums, delivering a more subdued, melodic approach, but no less energetic.
The older material is certainly more aggressive then the new stuff, which is a bit reminiscent of Killswitch Engage, A band which I enjoy, but I guess there will be some complaints from die-hard fans of the band seemingly "going-softer", no such words from me, I actually like their melodic tinged metal-core, and the new take on the older tracks is quite refreshing.

This album may not be as ground-breaking and new as the first Split Program, but it's certainly a must for self-respecting metal core fans, also very enjoyable for more death-metal inclined ones.

Alon Miasnikov