Caliban / The Asylum / Birmingham

After last nights trek up to Manchester to catch Decapitated on tour, a more sedate trip across the border from East to West Midlands and to one of my favourite metal venues, The Asylum in Birmingham, to catch Caliban on their “Back from Hell” tour. Tonight’s line up promises to be a right smorgasbord of international metal.

First up oin stage are Finnish symphonic death metal / deathcore band Assemble the Chariots. Formed in 2008 in Espoo (Go Blues !), they released their ninth studio album “Unyielding Night” in 2024.

Amazingly, this is their first time playing in the UK, and the four piece band deliver a fantastic set blending symphonic metal with themes of mythology. Their sound is centred around a crushing, high energy rhythm section, on which they overlay some glorious powerful riffs and harsh vocals.

In deed vocalist Onni Holmström’s performance is rock solid and the whole thing comes together in the power track Empress.

A wonderful and brutal start to the proceedings.

Next up, we catch the ferry down to Denmark, and in particular Copenhagen, where in 1996 Danish death metal / hardcore / Deathcore legends Cabal were formed. Well known as an impressive live act, they have released four studio albums from 2018’s “Mark of Rot” to their latest 2025 offering “Everything Rots”.

As with Assemble the Chariots, the vocal performance from Andreas Bjulver is incredible, especially considering he has been ill recently, the gravelly edge adding to the experience and ably backed by bass player Malthe Strøyer.

The Finnish four piece deliver a skull crushing set, and are obviously thoroughly enjoying themselves in Birmingham. And the crowd respond in kind, as a swirling pit develops as the heads bash away over the barrier. Cabal never disappoint, I’ve not seen a bad set from them and tonight was no exception. Pure energy from start to finish. Loved it.

A long haul flight now, down under to take in, In Heart’s Wake. Formed back in 2006 and from the small town of Byron Bay, they have released six albums the latest “Incarnation” dropping in 2024. Their songs focus on environmentalism, environmental justice and

Spirituality, as well as social issues.

Its not often you see a metacore band using dancers / performance artists on stage, but In Heart’s Wake use it to devastating effect. As the band take the stage, a sole figure stands steady on the barrier looking out into the crowd. All eyes fixed on him, those not knowing otherwise, expecting it to be the singer, then suddenly Jake Taylor roars out the opening lines from the heart of the pit, before making his way onto the stage as the shadowy figure slips away.

In Heart’s Wake hit hard and soon the pit opens up on the floor. The vocals are tight and pack plenty of vitriol as the two performers all in black perform either side of Jake.

Jake speaks eloquently between songs with the crowd, explaining the meaning behind the songs, be it about suicide or in the case of The Flood the real life natural disaster that hit their home town causing loss of life and the community spirit that rallied to search, support and recover together.

Their metalcore roots are clear to hear with some crushing rhythms. It’s a blistering and powerful set but in the magnitude of their sound but in the meaning and anger in their lyrics. The performance dance elements actually really effectively add to the set.

As the set draws to a close, Jake strips to the waist and performs hanging upside down from the roof beams. Again, another high energy set which delights the Birmingham crowd.

Three bands in, and it’s hard to see how the night could get any better….. but I’s about to. Flying back to Europe, and this time to Essen, home of German metalcore legends Caliban. To date they’ve released an impressive thirteen albums, the latest “Back from Hell” last month.

Unusually for a small (but brilliant venue) like the Asylum, Caliban have packed in an impressive lighting rig (the photographer in me skipping with joy lol) and they put it to great effect. Right from the off, with the blistering Guilt Trip, the intense lights flash out from the stage bathing us all in a glow as the intense riffs and pounding rhythm hit us in the chest hard.

By three songs in, Paralyzed and the pit is in full swing and everyone is bouncing. Half way through the set we get the fan favourite The Beloved and the Hatred which feels more melodic and heavier, but as always the fans sing along to with gusto.

For me, the hard, heavy hitting rendition of Dear Suffering was the highlight of the set and showed just what a tight band Caliban are. Vocalist Andreas Dörner commands the stage and moves with a confidence and swagger, interacting and encouraging the crowd at every opportunity, amping up the atmosphere ever higher.

Caliban were nothing short of inspirational tonight, tight, controlled and dominant. With metal from Finland, Denmark, Germany and Australia on offer tonight, it’s a reminder of the truly international reach of the genre, and just what a thriving scene it is.

Caliban should be on everyone’s ‘must see’ band list !

Setlist

Guilt Trip

I Was a Happy Kid Once

Paralyzed

Davy Jones

I Will Never Let You Down

The Beloved and the Hatred

Ich blute für Dich

VirUS

Insomnia

Back From Hell