While it's quite commonplace for bands to mix their heavy metal and hardcore influences together, it's important to remember that up until the mid- to late '90s, it was not entirely widely accepted by fans of either of the aforementioned genres to commingle. And certainly, one of the first groups to fully integrate both styles into their own sound was the German quintet Caliban. On their 2009 release and eight full-length overall, Say Hello to Tragedy, Caliban impressively let it rip as if they were a brand new band, let out of the gate for the first time. As expected, the tempos and bludgeoning riffs are kept at a consistently brisk pace throughout, and the Exorcist-like growls are just plan dandy. To sample the brutal Caliban sound/approach, selections such as the album-opening "24 Years," "Caliban's Revenge," and "No One Is Safe" will certainly do the trick. ~ Greg Prato

Rovi