arcane-beautiful
Now I’ve been a fan of Cave In for a whilst, but when they disappeared…and then came back, I wasn’t even aware of their reunion. So in their return, I decided to give this album a go, due to the fact it’s a bit of a return to form and…it’s a new Cave In album basically…and I’m a little debated…
The sound these guys make on this album is a bit different to their previous efforts, and is a very dramatic step away from my favourite album of theirs, “Antenna.” There is a very noisy atmosphere to this album, which hasn’t really been heard on their previous albums in this amount of detail. Yes, they are known for using their instruments at times in very interesting ways, but there is a very noisy texture behind all these songs.
I did enjoy this album a good bit, but to be honest, it’s not Cave In’s strongest in my opinion, and I know Cave In fans will slit my throat for this, but I do prefer these guys as a very interesting melodic rock band rather than just a common post hardcore noisy metalcore band. Antenna really had to be one of the most interesting rock albums of the last decade, because the songs where really well put together…but there was something else behind it. This album, has been done before, and it’s been done better.
This album to me is very similar to The Flaming Lips most recent album Embryonic. A big step in the next direction, incorporating a massive experimental side to the band, and bringing noise rock and other influences into the mould, and really experimenting with sound. Now I didn’t get the album when I first album when I first heard it, but now it’s grown on me (maybe this is what this album will do to me).
This album has the exact same formula. There is seeds of their own sound, but now there is a very noisy wall around it. The production is done in a very odd way, where sometimes the noise element can overshadow the songs themselves. Now in The Flaming Lips Embryonic it was interesting to hear this because the noise was rather beautiful at times. But in this album, the noise can at times can be almost overpowering (not too Merzbow, but enough to take away from the actual songs). I also feel that the album seems to get weaker as you listen to it.
Now I’m not going to lampoon this album completely. I did really like it, and would say it’s a great release from the band, and there are some real amazing moments on this album. But I’m afraid that this band that I once loved might end up becoming some obscure hipster feeding machine, where all songwriting ability has been lost in order to entertain the hipsters with beeps and noises rather than actual songs. At times I did feel like I was listening to some pish Pitchfork recommended generic indie band. I do respect this album a lot, because it does have a real album feel to it. The songs run into each other very well and do have grea atmospheres at times. The fact that it’s just over half an hour is a bonus as well.
1. White Silence – I love how this song is almost anthemic in its’ approach. A very odd way to start an album, but great nonetheless. 9/10
2. Serpents – Great riff in this song. Love the hardcore punk feel to it. Great vocals in the song. Best song on the album in my opinion 9/10
3. Sing My Loves – Pretty cool noisy intro. I love the Mastodon feel of the song, reminds me of the song Seabeast. I love the build ups throughout. The only problem I have with this song is that I can barely make out the clean vocals. It’s not that the vocals aren’t there; it’s just that I can’t really make out what Stephen is saying. The song also is a bit too long I feel. I love Calebs vocals in the song though. The noise rock elements are really interesting too. 8/10
4. Vicious Circles – This song does have a pretty killer chorus. The crazy guitar noises in this song are the real marvel to behold in this song. 7/10
5. Centered – The instrumentation and timing of this song is pretty killer. Great vocals and a killer chorus. I also love how the song ends and fades into the next track. 7/10
6. Summit Fever – There is a pretty killer groove in this song. Nice use of vocals. The production really does add to the gigantic sound of the song. 7/10
7. Heartbreaks, Earthquakes – Sounds a bit like a Beatles song on acid and ketamine. The song is pretty trippy, but it does sound like a nightmare of a trip. The only flaw I have with this song is that it does at time sound a bit like a “hipster” indie band trying to be all arty and noisy…but if you consider that it sounds like Panic At The Disco played by Lightning Bolt is a positive thing, then you may enjoy this song just a little more. 7/10
8. Iron Decibels – I do like how minimalistic this song is. Some of the instrumental sections are pretty interesting in the song, but the vocals let it down a bet to be honest. 6/10
9. Reanimation – One of the best songs on the album. I love the nice acoustic sound throughout. I hate how the song (and the album itself) ends with no real warning or care. 8/10
CONCLUSION: All in all, this is a great album. I’m really torn with it at times, and giving the score I’m giving is a bit of a push forward, but to be honest, I do fear these guys might end up embracing a style which really doesn’t belong to them. I love experimentation in music, but that doesn’t mean that your songwriting ability has to suffer due to it. These guys can still write songs, but there are moments on this album which do sound lie
6.9/10