Within only a few years Caliban climbed their way up through the European metal-core scene to become one of the most important and influential bands within the scene. "Shadow Hearts" is the third full length by this German five-pack.

Formed in 1997 (under the name Never Again) Caliban signed to Lifeforce Records right after recording a two-song promo tape. Shortly thereafter the band released a self-titled EP in the summer of 1998. Things started to get hard and heavy soon. In support of their first effort Caliban played many shows all over Europe and a few support gigs for bands like Morning Again, Earth Crisis and Cro-Mags. Having played their first European Tour in 1999 Caliban recorded their debut-full-length "A Small Boy And A Grey Heaven" which should become a classic within European metal-core. Offering fast, in tense and energy-bursting metal-core with an emotional element; Caliban are going from their trademark devastating mush parts to the fast adrenaline fuelled Slayer parts that dominate their records while at the same time keeping an emotional edge. Caliban mostly got described as a mixture of Slayer, Poison the Well and Hatebreed, what comes close to what Caliban is playing. 2000 saw the release of a Caliban split EP with their friends from Heaven Shall Burn, a now classic release. Things got bigger and bigger and when band's second long player "Vent" came out in April 2001 the record was also released on Imperium/Howling-Bull Records in Japan, followed by an appearance at famous Beast-Feast 2001 in Yokohama together with Slayer, Pantera, Machine Head, Biohazard and mighty Morbid Angel. Being back from Japan Caliban went on their first US Tour with Bloodjinn. The summer of 2002 saw Caliban touring the states a second tim e with A Life Once Lost, Dead To Fall and The Red Chord; including famous Hellfest in New York.