Live Review: Caliban - The Asylum, Birmingham
Support: In Hearts Wake, Cabal, Assemble The Chariots
9th May 2025
Words & Photos: Tim Finch
The Asylum in Birmingham played host to an explosive night of modern metal as Caliban headlined a stacked bill that brought together deathcore, metalcore, and pure, unrelenting energy from across the globe. With a packed venue and a feverish crowd, the evening unfolded as a tour de force of crushing riffs, chaotic breakdowns, and unforgettable stage moments.
Kicking off the night, London deathcore outfit Assemble The Chariots wasted no time in laying waste to the stage. Their set was a whirlwind of blast beats, guttural growls, and jagged rhythms; the kind of sound that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. While the crowd was still filtering in, those already in position were treated to a tight, punishing performance that set the bar high for what was to come.
Next up were Cabal, the Danish heavyweights known for their dark, atmospheric take on extreme metal. Their set was both suffocating and surgical, razor-sharp guitars cut through a wall of low-end menace, while frontman Andreas Bjulver anchored it all with a commanding presence. Songs like ‘Magno Interitus’ hit with apocalyptic weight, and the band’s blackened, mechanical tone left a lasting mark on the night.
Australian metalcore veterans In Hearts Wake took things in a more dynamic direction, bringing melody, groove, and wild theatrics. The set started with a bang as vocalist Jake Taylor launched into the first track from within the crowd, turning the pit into an instant warzone. Their high-energy anthems whipped the venue into a frenzy, mixing environmental themes with pit-ready breakdowns. As the final song approached, Taylor pulled off the night’s most jaw-dropping moment, hanging upside down from the rafters, screaming into the mic as fans below looked on in awe. It was risky, it was chaotic and it was pure theatre.
Finally, it was time for Caliban. The German metalcore veterans took the stage to a wall of noise from a crowd already whipped into a sweat-soaked frenzy. They opened with ‘Guilt Trip’, immediately unleashing tight, groove-laden riffs and ferocious screams. Caliban’s sound has always balanced aggression and atmosphere, and tonight was no different — from the emotionally heavy ‘I Was a Happy Kid Once’ to the pulverizing weight of ‘Paralyzed’, the band were in full command.
‘Davy Jones’ and ‘I Will Never Let You Down’ kept the energy high, but it was the throwback ‘The Beloved and the Hatred’ that sparked a massive crowd reaction, with pits swirling and voices screaming along.
‘VirUS’ was unexpectedly halted midway due to a medical emergency in the crowd. The band and venue staff handled the situation with professionalism and compassion, pausing the set as medics attended to the individual. After a brief delay, Caliban returned with ‘Insomnia’, and the emotional weight of the moment only added to the performance’s intensity.
They powered through the final stretch with a feral ‘Back From Hell’, the soaring melodies of ‘Memorial’, and the pit-destroying ‘Devil’s Night’. The closer, ‘Nothing Is Forever’, was a fitting end, a crushing, cathartic anthem delivered with unflinching intensity.
This show was more than just a night of heavy music, it was a testament to the power of live performance. From upside-down antics and medical pauses to unrelenting sonic assault, every band left a mark. But it was Caliban who stood tall, proving once again why they remain one of the most enduring forces in European metalcore.
Photo Credits: Tim Finch Photography
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