LIVE REVIEW: Cave In @ Heaven, London
It’s been three long years since CAVE IN last graced these shores. At that time, they were still reeling from the loss of bassist Caleb Schofield but tonight they’re reinvigorated with their latest album, the excellent Heavy Pendulum added to their already formidable catalogue.
Opening for them are Belgian post-metallers STAKE, whose sludgy groove captures as much grunge as it does tectonic post-metal shifts. Songs flow between gentler atmospheric passages to more urgent moments directed by frenetic drum fills. It’s quickly apparent, unfortunately, that the vocal mix leaves something to be desired. In softer moments, the melodies are for the most part easily audible, but when they employ screams during moments the band are going full-bore, they barely cut through at all. Songs from latest album Love, Death And Decay like Fuck My Anxiety, however, are exactly as anthemic and compelling as they are on record, serpentine guitars twist and turn above rumbling bass and the grooves, when they lock in, are nothing short of spellbinding. Their progressive sludge occasionally feels a little like MASTODON on some really bad acid; the biggest problem is the quiet main vocals; even between song patter is indecipherable, with only one song name being truly audible in their entire set. Minus minor sound woes, it’s an excellent showing from one of Belgium’s top post-metal bands that deserve far more love on these shores.
Rating: 7/10
If there’s one band that could follow that display though, it’s CAVE IN. From the moment they kick into New Reality and follow it with the serpentine Blood Spiller, the crowd are putty in the quartet’s hands. They complete the opening trio with the sludge-laden Searchers Of Hell, playing with the biggest grins and the kind of consummate ease borne of decades in each other’s company. “I see you dusty old fucks,” laughs bassist Nate Newton, gleefully taunting, daring their older fans to mosh (“but you won’t, because you’re old”) before older number The End Of Our Rope Is A Noose rumbles forth. Its bluesy swagger is simply undeniable and thanks to those accusations of people not moshing – no matter how unserious – there’s more than a little neck movement when the titanic groove hits. They slow things down with the bluesy, almost country Reckoning but it’s no less intense; the four exude a magnetic charisma and love of performing that even with a fairly sparse lightshow they can be sure that all eyes are on them.
With its lush solo and towering chorus, Joy Opposites could almost have laid down the blueprint for rock ballads written after its 2003 release; with Reckoning before it, it might be a respite from the ferocious riffs but it’s no less emotionally intense. Their pacing is commendable as well; after the two ballads they make sure to bring back the energy in force with a scorching Careless Offering that sees the band particularly animated. Arguably though, it’s main set closer Wavering Angel that steals the show. The best progressive thrash song METALLICA never wrote, it builds and builds from soft opening to duelling guitar solos and crushing close. The crowd are utterly entranced by it, so much so it seems to take a second for the fact it’s ended to sink in, making the resultant cheer all the louder. How do you follow that? Well, CAVE IN equal it by pulling out two older songs; one from their Caleb memorial show, the aptly titled Big Riff and final closer Sing My Loves. The latter, with its dedication to Caleb Schofield, is the cause of more than a few damp eyes as its sludgy magnificence suffuses the room. An utterly spellbinding set from one of metal’s most influential, and best bands.
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Karolina Janikunaite here:
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