Heavy Pendulum

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Heavy Pendulum
Studio album by
Cave In
ReleasedMay 20, 2022
RecordedJanuary–February, August 2021
StudioGodCity, Salem, Massachusetts
Genre
Length70:30
LabelRelapse
ProducerKurt Ballou
Cave In chronology
Final Transmission
(2019) 		Heavy Pendulum
(2022)
Singles from Heavy Pendulum
  1. "New Reality"
    Released: March 15, 2022
  2. "Blinded by a Blaze"
    Released: April 5, 2022
  3. "Blood Spiller"
    Released: April 26, 2022
  4. "Reckoning"
    Released: May 10, 2022
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blabbermouth.net9/10[2]
Classic Rock[3]
Distorted Sound10/10[4]
The Guardian[5]
Kerrang!4/5[6]
New Noise Magazine[7]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[8]

Heavy Pendulum is the seventh studio album by American rock band Cave In, released on May 20, 2022 through Relapse Records.[10] This is the band's first album with bassist/backing vocalist Nate Newton, though late bassist/vocalist Caleb Scofield still has a presence on the record.[11]

Background[edit]

In July 2021, Cave In signed to Relapse Records and announced its seventh studio album will be released through the label.[12] The album's title was revealed as Heavy Pendulum with the release of the single "New Reality" on March 15, 2022.[13] The album's second single, "Blinded by a Blaze", was released on April 5.[14] The album's third single, "Blood Spiller", was released on April 26.[15] The fourth single, "Reckoning", was released on May 10; the song was written entirely by guitarist Adam McGrath.[16]

The album was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou, who produced Cave In's debut Until Your Heart Stops.[17]

"New Reality" features a riff that was written by late bassist/vocalist Caleb Scofield in 2011. Additionally, "Amaranthine" features lyrics that were written by Scofield.[4]

Musical style and lyrical themes[edit]

Revolver described lead single and opening track "New Reality" as leaning "into the quartet's sludgier inclinations."[18] Jon Hadusek from Consequence referred to the song's riff as "heavy sludge and stoner metal."[19] Second single, "Blinded by a Blaze", has been described as post-metal.[20]

Nicholas Senior of New Noise Magazine described the album as stoner metal, comparing it to Red Fang.[7] Additionally, the album has been noted as having a strong grunge influence[6][8] and "employing a wide-ranging amalgam of brooding post-grunge and "Creeping Death"-era Metallica thrash".[1]

"Blood Spiller" was written in response to several events that occurred in 2020. Frontman Stephen Brodsky stated:

If you laid out the timeline for 2020 like a recipe, it might look something like this: global pandemic + lockdowns + worldwide protests over the wrongful death of George Floyd + election year = cocktail for end times. Somewhere in that concoction, we found ingredients for a new Cave In album. Blood Spiller is the sound of us swallowing it, getting ripped on the horrors within, and coming down to reflect on it through song.[21]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Cave In, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."New Reality"Cave In, Caleb Scofield4:41
2."Blood Spiller" 4:01
3."Floating Skulls" 3:39
4."Heavy Pendulum" 5:09
5."Pendulambient" 1:58
6."Careless Offering" 4:55
7."Blinded by a Blaze" 7:39
8."Amaranthine"Cave In, Scofield4:27
9."Searchers of Hell" 3:53
10."Nightmare Eyes" 7:05
11."Days of Nothing" 1:50
12."Waiting for Love" 4:32
13."Reckoning"Adam McGrath4:33
14."Wavering Angel" 12:08
Total length:70:30
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Moor" (Every Time I Die cover)Keith Buckley, Jordan Buckley, Andrew Williams, Stephen Micciche, Ryan Leger3:53
Total length:74:23

Personnel[edit]

Cave In

  • Stephen Brodsky – lead vocals, lead guitar
  • Adam McGrath – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Reckoning"
  • Nate Newton – bass, backing vocals, tambourine
  • John-Robert Conners – drums
Production
  • Kurt Ballou – production, mixing
  • Zach Weeks – assistant producer, additional mixing
  • Richey Beckett – artwork

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Heavy Pendulum
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 97
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[23] 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Christopher Monger, James (22 May 2022). "Heavy Pendulum – Cave In". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. ^ Lawson, Dom (17 May 2022). "Reviews - Heavy Pendulum". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Jeffries, Neil (May 20, 2022). "Cave In: Heavy Pendulum album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Heasley, Ellis (May 16, 2022). "ALBUM REVIEW: Heavy Pendulum - Cave In". Distorted Sound. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Cave In: Heavy Pendulum review - an unapologetically fierce beast". The Guardian. May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Blum, Jordan (May 20, 2022). "Album review: Cave In - Heavy Pendulum". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Senior, Nicholas (May 18, 2022). "Album Review - Cave In - Heavy Pendulum". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Rowan5215 (May 16, 2022). "Review: Cave In - Heavy Pendulum". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 18, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Heavy Pendulum by Cave in". Metacritic.
  10. ^ Rogers, Jack (March 16, 2022). "This Is Everything You Need To Know About Cave In's New Album 'Heavy Pendulum'". Rock Sound. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Sacher, Andrew (March 15, 2022). "Cave In detail new album 'Heavy Pendulum,' share lead single "New Reality"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  12. ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 22, 2021). "Cave In sign to Relapse, releasing new album in 2022". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Brannigan, Paul (March 15, 2022). "Cave In announce new album Heavy Pendulum, share single New Reality". Louder. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  14. ^ Weaver, James (April 5, 2022). "Cave In release new music video for 'Blinded By A Blaze'". Distorted Sound. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  15. ^ Rettig, James (April 26, 2022). "Cave In - "Blood Spiller"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "Cave In premiere new single 'Reckoning'". Lambgoat. May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  17. ^ Law, Sam (March 16, 2022). "Cave In talk new album Heavy Pendulum". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  18. ^ "Hear Cave In's Sludgy New Song "New Reality"". Revolver. March 15, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  19. ^ Hadusek, Jon (March 15, 2022). "Cave In's "New Reality" From New Album Heavy Pendulum". Consequence. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  20. ^ Mahmud, Abir (April 6, 2022). "Cave In Share New Song "Blinded By A Blaze'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  21. ^ Heasley, Ellis (April 27, 2022). "Cave In release new music video for 'Blood Spiller'". Distorted Sound. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Cave In – Heavy Pendulum". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  23. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
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