Cave In

To placate the masses before their forthcoming major label debut in early 2003, Boston's hardcore-turned-indie-rock craftsmen Cave In release their most ambitious EP yet, which is composed of various songs recorded between tours. Opener "Come Into Your Own" recalls the more tender moments of 2000's Jupiter, and the moodier "Dark Driving" finds drummer John-Robert Conners at the top of his game, with extended, Phil Collins-ish tom work that accentuates Adam McGrath's atmospheric guitar-scapes. "The Calypso" soars Elliott-style over the proceedings as a more melodic III-era Zeppelin cut, though "Everest" chimes in most Zep-initely with "The Battle Of Evermore" overtones. Also included is the first-ever cover of a Giants Chair song, the potent "The Callus," a rare seven-inch track from the now defunct Midwest group that directly influenced Shiner, Season To Risk and Molly McGuire/Gunfighter. The title track, however, takes the cake as one of the most beautiful Cave In songs ever - tropical waves lapping the shore, jazzy guitar notes echoing through the breeze and front-man Stephen Brodsky's lilting vocal harmonies. The enhanced CD is loaded with extras, too: a "Jupiter" video, live footage from Spain, early demo versions of EP cuts and a photo gallery all enveloped with ambient compositions by Brodsky himself. Not that rock needed to be saved, but Cave In do the job with the most genuine and heartfelt aplomb.