Labels: Hydra Head
Review by: Kunal Nandi
Cave In do another stop-gap EP, this time in preparation for their major-label debut. It signifies much less of a stylistic leap that “Creative Eclipses” did. That one heralded the band’s entry into the world of tuneful, epic rock, and jarred many a listener expecting their usual crunchy and elaborate death-metal. This one carries the tuneful torch further, but with a more “mature” approach, or at least I think it is. I barely know the meaning of the word. I DO know that the music on here is a bit calmer than what I am used to from this mob, and perhaps ever so slightly. boring?
Maturity – usually it’s a sure-fire way of getting on my tits. Let me explain/ramble. When bands are said to be starting to show signs of “maturing”, it always seems to signpost a band’s unwillingness to experiment, to explore new avenues, and as a consequence, the music becomes. cack! Is that what has happened here? I don’t think so – the hit-to-shit ratio is still running high.
Maybe the problem is trying to follow up “Jupiter”, which I have to say is in my humble opinion one of the finest records ever made. There is nothing on here that is as instantly memorable as anything from that record, but then what possibly could be? What does seem to happen is that given repeated listens, the music slowly but surely becomes lodged firmly inside your head until you hum “The Calypso” and “Everest” everywhere you go.
One of the best bits to this is (again) the cover. Last time we were treated to a cracking version of a song by Failure (very sadly-missed, and overlooked slow grunge overlords), and this time it’s the turn of Kansas City mid-90’s emo (when it didn’t mean rubbish) combo Boy’s Life. A great choice, well executed.
I guess growing up isn’t so bad. The new album will rule.