Almost two decades into their reign as metalcore pioneers, Caliban return with their fiercest offering yet – and it’s a monster. Sitting down with Amped, guitarist Marc Görtz and new recruit Iain Roessner PULLS back the curtain on Back From Hell, the album that reignites their legacy while charging fearlessly into the future

Words by Felix Bartlett | April 25, 2025

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For over two decades, Caliban has stood as one of metalcore’s most enduring forces, their music serving as the soundtrack to countless mosh pits and personal revolutions since forming in Essen, Germany in 1997. What began as a passionate project between vocalist Andreas Dörner and guitarist Marc Görtz has evolved into something far greater – a band that has not only weathered the storms of an ever-changing music industry but has consistently emerged stronger, their sound maturing while never losing that raw intensity that first drew fans to them.

With the release of their twelfth studio album Back From Hell, the current lineup – completed by longtime drummer Patrick Grün, guitarist Denis Schmidt, and newest member Iain Duncan on bass and clean vocals – have delivered what may be their most powerful statement yet. This isn’t just another album in their discography; it’s a culmination of everything that has made Caliban special while boldly pushing forward into new territory. The addition of Duncan, a lifelong fan of the band, has injected fresh energy into their creative process, resulting in material that feels both familiar and excitingly new.

What can fans expect from this album, in your opinion?

Iain, the band’s newest member, offers a unique perspective: “I’ve got the special position here because I’ve listened to Caliban since I was 14. Getting to do an album with them gave me the opportunity to blend my own vision of what I believe Caliban is or should be.” He describes the process as “blending the old and the new… until there’s this new amalgamation of what it’s become.”

The album marks a significant evolution for the German metalcore pioneers. Iain explains: “You’ve got a blend of old school metalcore elements that’s quite strong and dominant. Caliban gets to do things other bands would be frowned upon for. They can defend these risks because they basically invented it back in the day.” He promises fans “a very good, refreshingly good Caliban album with a spice of the olden glory days – and a very heavy Caliban album at that.”

How did Ian’s involvement influence the new record from your side, Marc?

The longtime member details the organic process: “It wasn’t a jump from 1 to 100. We had about three tracks when he came in.” Marc reveals the band faced challenges with their previous vocal setup: “We noticed Andy was overwhelmed with what we wanted him to do. The screams on this album are very challenging – we wanted to push limits and bring back old school aggression with modern techniques.”

The recruitment process was equally natural. Marc recalls: “Ian had asked me about joining after Michael left. Months later I called him up: ‘Are you up to do it?’ We slowly implemented him, and he developed his own ideas.” Iain interjects with characteristic enthusiasm: “Match made in heaven!”

Coming into this as a newbie, how was that dynamic for you?

Iain reflects on finding his place: “I had to remind myself – I burst with ideas, but I’m dealing with principal songwriters on album number 14 or 15. There’s dynamics that have existed for so long.” His involvement grew organically: “The more the album progressed, the more I got involved in songwriting and riffing. I enjoyed creating my own imaginary version of Caliban and mixing that with other ideas.”

The personal connection runs deep, particularly on tracks like ‘Insomnia’. Iain shares: “I’d gone through a tough time before recording – I literally couldn’t sleep for three months. The song’s content is very real.” He describes the creative process: “There was a different opening riff initially – it was good but didn’t quite fit. We simplified it into something straightforward and in your face.”

These themes of struggle and resilience – do they come from anyone in particular?

Iain reveals profound personal connections: “I had a family emergency a week before recording. I was dealing with suicide helplines and hospitals. I came back to sessions saying, ‘Guys, to be honest, I am fucked.’” This opened creative floodgates: “It made me start singing about things that actually matter. I can personally relate to every single song.”

Marc echoes these sentiments: “I was in a place where I didn’t really want to be, dealing with personal things. That flowed into the music – riffs were either really crazy heavy or very emotional.” He cites ‘Soulless and Suffer’ as particularly meaningful: “I told the guys, this might be one of the best choruses I’ve ever written. It’s so emotional.”

The album features notable collaborations, including with Fit For An Autopsy. Marc explains how some came naturally: “The Mental Cruelty feature happened because their guitarist co-produced ‘Guilt Trip’. The song got their vibe, so Lucas did guest vocals. Lucas recorded his vocals in a tour bus during a Cradle of Filth run.” Creating what the band affectionately calls “goblin vocals.” Duncan recalls with amusement, “He was sitting there making these insane noises while their bus driver slept in the back, completely oblivious! His ‘goblin vocals’ are fantastic! He’s like a guttural artist – can do all these funny noises and super black metal-ish sounds.”

Is this collaborative approach something you’d continue?

Both members light up at the prospect. Marc shares a dream-come-true story: “Brian from Korn sang on our album two records back. We played shows with them, hung out, and I just asked – ‘Would you be keen to be on it?’ To my surprise, he said yes!” Current wishlist includes Corey Taylor and Jacoby Shaddix. Iain adds: “Howard Jones from Killswitch Engage would be amazing. They’re still heavily in the game.”

How have you seen the German metal scene change?

Marc offers a historical perspective: “It started small from the hardcore scene, then some bands implemented more metal. People called it hype, said it wasn’t real metal. But now metalcore is bigger than ever.” Iain observes: “Bands like I Prevail draw twice as many people as traditional metal shows here. The genre’s enormous again.”

As the conversation winds down, both members share their favourite new tracks. Marc picks “‘Dear Suffering’ and ‘Overdrive’,” while Iain chooses “‘Dear Suffering’ for the heaviness and ‘Glass Cage’ for its old school riffs.” Looking ahead, Marc promises: “A lot of energy and good live shows. We’re planning real show elements.” Iain hints at future creativity: “We’re already eyeing up more music. I’m mentally thinking of things to try – I’m inspired by the album myself.”

Back From Hell is out now via Century Media Records. Catch them on tour this May. Get your tickets here