The last time we talked to Caliban was during the God Forbid tour, due to conflicting familial issues, I was not able to interview the band during both runs when the band toured the States. Due to my level of fandom, I still wanted to follow-up with the band, especially talk to them about their new album, The Undying Darkness. Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where email interviews don't always go according to plans and hopes. Nonetheless, here's a peek or a more current snapshot into the world of the band.

Karma E. Omowale: Thanks for doing the interview, Andy! Much has transpired since we last spoke (during the God Forbid Tour in 2005), a plethora of tours in Europe, the Abacus Tour: Chapter 1, current tour…and a new album! Well first thing’s first, how’s the tour going so far, as it’s almost coming to a rapid close.
Andy Dörner: The tour was great, we had a good time in the States and the other bands were amazing....thanks guys!!!

How has the response been to the new material?
Pretty good, there were a lot of sing-alongs and a lot party, so I guess they liked it : )

I know you have a pretty good fanbase in Canada, were the fans disappointed you were not going up there this go round?
Maybe not disappointed, but sad...but I promise we´ll come on the next tour!!!

Do you think this tour has given you more of a name here in the States, adding to what you established on the God Forbid tour & The Abacus Tour?
I think we are growing and getting more known every time we´ve been there...thank you to all the people who supported us the whole time!!!

How was your experience at the NE Metalfest?
It was the first time on the mainstage and we enjoyed it, just the time was too short...we met a lot of friends again and had a good time...

Since forming in ’97 what have you learned about yourself since then and your bandmates?
That if you just really want something and believe in it, then you can make it...

As far as the evolution of the band, if you had to do it over again, would you choose the same steps or would you change the course? Why?
There´s nothing to regret bandwise, personally I sometimes wish to started earlier with singing lessons...

Are you happy with the direction/progression of the band and your sound?
Yes I am...I mean we´re not perfect, not now...but hey, who the hell is perfect anyway ; )

Congrats on the album, when I interviewed Anders [Fridén] he was pretty stoked with the end product. Said "Better than the last". How do you feel about the album? Are you satisfied with it?
Yeah totally...the last record was music and production wise better then the record(s) before...all people who worked on it made a very good job!!!

I know Anders provides some backing vocals, which tracks do he appear on?
He did vocals on an unreleased track called "see the falling sky" I like this song a lot, but it was just a back up song...I think this song will never be released, sorry : )

I also understand Mille [Miland Petrozza] does cameo vocals on "Moment Of Clarity". How did he come to do vocals on the song?
He´s a good friend of us, he lives in the same city like our guitar player marc and it was more coincidence, cause we just invited him to listen to the songs and to play maybe a solo on a song...but then I asked him if he wanted to help me out with this song and he just did it...he´s a very nice guy, thanks to mille!!!

Subject matter is not a happy one, more despair heartache, what was the basis for the lyrics this go round since the last album concentrated heavily on events concerning your ex-girlfriend.
It´s because she was always on my mind, but today I´m cured and that´s a promise now, on the next record wont be any songs about her anymore, except of one maybe...let´s say a last goodbye :)

Is it like second nature to have Andy Sneap mixing your works?
He´s a mastermind in what he´s doing, that´s the reason...he made always a great job!!!

Did you find the writing process more or less laborious than for The Opposite From Within or previous albums for that matter.
Not maybe laborious, but more stressful because the time we had for the writing process was more less then before...but the result was even better...

Talk to me about the cover, what significance does it hold for you? Were there other ideas that didn’t make the cut?
The angel on the cover stands for the will to fight against "The Undying Darkness", never to give up...that´s why he´s so bright and his eyes glow to see in the dark, to see all the traps in the darkness...(in life)

Love the concept for the video for "It's Our Burden To Bleed". Who came up with the concept?
That´s not 100% right love is a big point in the video, but the concept was to show the 7 dead sins combined with the factor love...we got some concepts from different writers and we choose this, cause we liked it the most...

What’s your favorite song off the album and why? Do you have a least favorite?
I think my favorite song on the last record is "Nothing Is Forever" I love this song music and lyric wise a lot and it means a lot to me...there're a lot of songs I really like, which mean a lot to me, to many to mention them all...

Whom are you listening to in these days? Have your musical tastes changed at all in the past year and a half?
I am listening to almost every kind of music, if it´s metal, or hardcore, or emo, screamo, thrash, death, pop, or electro music...it really depends on my mood I´m in...but I think I listen more to the quiet stuff back home :)

Peering into the crystal ball, are there any immediate plans to tour U.S. again? A DVD?
First of all we´re working on a new record and after it´s out we´ll be coming back to the states...a DVD would be nice and we´re collecting a lot of material for it...so I think someday there will be a DVD, but not in the near future...

Speed Round Questions

Since you are a spiritual person, do you believe in the afterlife?
Spiritual person? actually that´s a good question and I´m not sure...

Have you ever told a secret you swore not to tell?
No, never.

Using the initials in your first name, come up with characteristics for each letter.
A: Anger
N: Night
D: Dancing
Y: Yearning

Best pickup line German/English.
Ficken, oder watt...you wanna sit there and cry or you wanna rock n smile.

If it weren’t for Caliban, what would you do with life? Your bandmates?
A dream of me is to own a bar or a club...I don't know about the others...

If Caliban were a cocktail, which drink would you be?
A B52.

Here’s a series of role reversal questions: since you did a cover of Björk’s "Army of Me", if you could commission a band to cover a Caliban song, who would do it and which song would they cover?
Hard one...it should be an old one, maybe.

Quickly: Did you ever find out if Björk heard the cover?
No and I don't think so, but the next time I see her I will ask ; )

If you could interview a band, who would you chose to interview and what would be the one thing that you’d like to know about them?
Maybe Metallica I would ask how they can still stand on their feeds after this long time of rock n roll and music business...

Last question on the role reversal tip, do you have any questions for me?
How was the interview for you ; )? Well to be honest, I am sad that I was not able to conduct this interview in person, it would have been even better. :^)

Do you have any special messages for your fans?
Just a huge thank you for all your time and support, we were nothing without you!!!

Danke!

We'd like to thank Andy for filling this interview out and to the Abacus PR department for making this interview a possibility!

o   Click here for previous interview with Andy

o  Here for photos / review of the band from the 2005 God Forbid Tour

o   Here for album review of The Undying Darkness