The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven (Review)

This is the third album from US hardcore band The Callous Daoboys.

Full of genre-splicing, creative sounds, and adventurous ideas, I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven is a 57-minute embarrassment of riches. It’s a diverse record, ripe with captivating riffs, reflective introspection, huge breakdowns, pop hooks, and much else.

If ever there was a natural successor to The Dillinger Escape Plan, it’s The Callous Daoboys. Thankfully, there’s more than just a faded echo here, and The Callous Daoboys explode into vibrant colour all across this expressive album. You can’t ignore the influence of the mighty Dillinger, but nor does it obscure the obvious talent and personality of their own that The Callous Daoboys have crafted. For other musical reference points, the following bands came to mind at various points during my time with this album, although there are others too – Better Lovers, Boysnightout, Every Time I Die, Full of Hell, Glassjaw, Greyhaven, Norma Jean, Protest the Hero, etc.

At its heart I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven is stylistically a mix of hardcore, post-hardcore, mathcore, and metal. Added to this though, are a range of ingredients all thrown in for extra flavour – pop, jazz, dance, and more. While such an experiment might easily be a colossal failure, here it’s a raging success. Importantly, despite the huge breadth of influences that have gone into this, everything is channelled into actual songs that are hideously enjoyable. The Callous Daoboys know how to write a damn good tune.

With a talented, charismatic singer, a selection of musicians that excel in their chosen mediums, and a cast of additional guests, there’s a lot going on here. The album is packed with meaty content.

An infectious mix of chaos and accessibility, the songs range from absolute violence to pure serenity. The combination of hooks and heaviness is absorbing, and the band prove themselves adept at mastering whatever they turn their collective hands too. The record is packed with emotion, which is used to drive the music forward with relentless passion.

I Don’t Want to See You in heaven is an exceptional record. The Callous Daoboys have seriously impressed.

Essential listening.