The Wiz: Cave In - Heavy Pendulum
What's the connection between a tragic car accident, a series of cult metal videos, and an insanely gifted musician with an incredible work ethic? "Cave In" - "Heavy Pendulum"⚡
"Cave In" began in Boston's hardcore and metalcore scene back in 1995, although the lineup came together around three years later, ahead of their debut album, "Until Your Heart Stops".
Despite taking a break along the way, between 2006 and 2009, "Cave In" had released six terrific albums up to this latest chapter. Most fans of post-hardcore through metalcore🤘 will find plenty to love, alongside more alternative directions, as on "Antenna" (2003).
That versatility🎨 remained after their return from the hiatus, with greater emphasis on their heavier roots.
Their previous album, "Final Transmission" (2019), emerged from tragedy. Bassist Caleb Scofield died in a car accident🚗 before its release. The remaining members decided to finish the record and dedicate it to their late friend... Yet, as its title suggested, it wasn't at all clear🤔 whether any more sounds would follow that final transmission.
On May 20, 2022, a new chapter in the band's life began with "Heavy Pendulum"⚡, their seventh album, released through the excellent "Relapse Records"!
A roller coaster🎢 of post-hardcore, grungy and sludgy riffs and vocals, heavy, groovy bass, old-school metal, touches of prog, psychedelia... You name it.
Even within this mixture, with shifting rhythms and flashes of growling🙀 from new bassist and vocalist Nate Newton, everything sounds tight and unified. It hits your ears with massive force and lands like a punch to the face!👊 I have a feeling this will still be one of my albums of the year when the year is out!
Another member of "Converge", like Newton, guitarist Kurt Ballou, is responsible for producing🧠 this incredible album!
"Cave In" vocalist and outstanding guitarist🎸 Stephen Brodsky has also collaborated with "Converge". Over the years, he's been involved in so many projects that, in certain scenes, it almost seems there's nowhere he hasn't left his mark🤯... That work ethic includes membership in other excellent bands: "New Idea Society", "Mutoid Man" and "Old Man Gloom"...
Then there are his solo career, collaborations with several "princesses of darkness", Chelsea Wolfe, Emma Ruth Rundle and Marissa Nadler, and, during the past year, a stint as an additional guitarist with the excellent⏳ "Quicksand", who released the superb "Distant Populations" last year!
Here is Brodsky with them live💥, delivering a blast from that album:
Add to all this his extensive involvement in the lockdown and streaming productions📺 of the cult metal talk show led by Jordan Olds, host "Gwarsenio Hall" of... "Two Minutes to Late Night".
The show really took off during lockdown. Among other things, it's known for assembling one-off supergroups who record fiery🌶️ rock and metal covers of gems from the past from their own living rooms... With amazing results!
Here's a taste featuring Brodsky...
Get into Brodsky, get hooked on "Two Minutes"... Let "Heavy Pendulum"⚡ steamroll you... "Cave In"🎧
Enjoy!
O.Miz🎧
Clockwise from the top left:
The "Heavy Pendulum" cover and vinyl; Chelsea Wolfe and Brodsky, who collaborated with "Converge" on their latest album; the current "Cave In" lineup; the late Caleb Scofield; Jordan/Gwarsenio of "Two Minutes"; Brodsky and Scofield; and Nate Newton.
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