REVIEW: Caliban – Coverfield EP

Artist: Caliban
Album: Coverfield EP
Genre: Metal
Label: Century Media

Cover versions are often a source of headache and strife among music fans, seemingly always divided into groups of “purists” and “forward-thinkers” who are on exact opposite sides of the argument. Fans don’t want originals to be tainted, bands want to pay tribute. Sometimes, like in the case of Hatebreed’s For The Lions, it’s very highly regarded. In others, such Children of Bodom’s Skeletons In The Closet it’s often looked at with ridicule (a version of the popular Britney Spears tune “Oops… I Did It Again” is included on the album).

Enter Caliban with their new EP, Coverfield. At only four tracks, there’s not a whole lot of material. Good thing for us, the track selection is great and includes the following songs: “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend” by Type O Negative, “Sonne” by Rammstein, “Blinded by Fear” by At The Gates, and “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles. Each of the four covers has a very distinct flavor, all of which tie the song’s original feel in with Caliban’s sound (with the exception of “Blinded By Fear” which sounds remarkably like the original when you first hear it). It’s really interesting to hear Caliban’s sound mixed with the styles of Rammstein, Type O Negative, and The Beatles especially.

Coverfield is a pretty solid mix of “true to form” covers and “I don’t really recognize this” covers, none of which are offensively bad (though I’m sure die hard Beatles and Type O Negative fans will be unhappy with these cover versions). Four tracks that are a fresh step outside of Caliban’s normal sound, it’s probably a good thing it’s only four tracks–any longer and it might be a bit too overwhelming and unlike everything Caliban has done as a band.

It’s tough give a four song EP that runs almost 14 minutes a rating, but I can at least say that Coverfield is certainly worth checking out, even if it is only out of curiosity or to hear some songs you’ve loved played in a different light.

Score: (Not rated due to length)
Review written by: Jordan Munson

James Shotwell
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