Cave In

Anticipation is high over this, the first full-length from these metalcore/space rock pioneers in five years. And it starts off a bit slow ― the first couple songs kind go in one ear and out the other ― but, man, track three, "Sing My Loves," is a swirling, arresting display of Jupiter-esque atmospheric rock. The song is a masterpiece and stands as an anomaly on this album, but that's okay, as there are other sounds to enjoy. And unlike the band's last proper full-length, Perfect Pitch Black, the heavy parts nodding to the band's metalcore-pioneering past mesh together nicely with the melodic rock songs, such as "Iron Decibels," which sounds, like the Cult's Ian Astbury rocking with a post-hardcore band, and "Vicious Circles," a metal song that works. "Heartbreaks, Earthquakes" takes that Beatles influence that has been prominent in much of the band's material over the years to a very successful place, also tying together all aspects of Cave In's sound into one cohesive, flowing release. It sounds relaxed (which Perfect Pitch Black didn't); it sounds like the band's having fun (which can't really be said of their older material); and, most importantly, it sounds good.