Perfect Pitch Black

Cave-In | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hydrahead Records
• ASIN: B000A87K8W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,047 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DISCLAIMER: This is not a proper full length album!, January 3, 2006

By 

W. Fuller "lagwilliam" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Perfect Pitch Black (Audio CD)

Some reviewers don't seem to understand the circumstances regarding this release. "Perfect Pitch Black" is a collection of songs culled from three separate recording sessions and includes demos from what was to be the band's second album for RCA. These demos were given a few production related embellishments, but they still retain a rough edge inherent to any unfinished product. Even Stephen Brodsky himself admitted that the lyrics weren't fully flushed out. So it seems premature to compare this release to any one of the band's fully conceived albums. However, there are still a lot of great musical ideas going on in "Perfect Pitch Black". This release would be considered excellent by any other bands standards.

I've been a longtime fan of Cave In, including each of the band's musical incarnations to present. To me, this release signifies a band that has rediscovered its love for music after an ill-fated relationship with a major label. Cave In could have easily quit after being dropped from RCA. Instead, they quickly released a collection of songs which only hint as to which musical direction the band will take next, and since then the band has toured virtually non-stop. Given the tumultuousness of the band's past few years, what more could you ask for. Save the comparisons for the bands upcoming full-length album with Converge drummer, Ben Koller.

For those new to Cave In's music, I'd recommend investigating the band's brutal roots ("Until Your Heart Stops") and its space rock aspirations ("Jupiter") before coming up to speed with this release.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where Will They Go Next?, March 4, 2006

By 

LeftManOut (TheCityThatNeverSleeps, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perfect Pitch Black (Audio CD)

After being dropped from RCA following 2003's "Antenna" (yet another amazing band abandoned by the big corporate music world), Cave In rightfully returned to their true home on Hydra Head records and quickly turned out their follow up, "Pitch Perfect Black." Thus far this album seems to have garnered a mixed bag of reviews, some describing it as a glorious return to the band's roots and a phenomenal mixture of "Jupiter" and "Until Your Heart Stops", while some are simply describing it as polished off demos put together as a full length. Neither description is really a correct classification for this album. While the band does incorporate elements of their older sound on this release (particularly Steven's return to the tortured metalcore vocals he was known for on "Until Your Heart Stops" in places), this isn't a glorious hardcore rebirth or anything of that nature. In fact "Pitch Perfect Black" is actually a fine stepping stone in the always evolving Cave In sound, and one that rightfully connects everything the band has done in the past to everything they are doing right now.

First, like mentioned above, it should be noted that "Pitch Perfect Black" isn't a phenomenal mix of "Until Your Heart Stops" and "Jupiter." Although Steven brings back his screaming vocal style in places, musically this sounds nothing like the Cave In on either of those releases. Of course there's the spacy guitar progressions that the band has been flirting with since their heyday ("Paranormal" and "Ataraxia" both have groovy, atmospheric feels) and there's somewhat of a return of the brooding assaults of UYHS ("Trepanning" probably being the most obvious straight-ahead rocker), but there's also a lot of differences. In fact "Pitch Perfect Black" could more correctly be described as combination of every album Cave In has put out so far. There's the melodic leanings of "Antenna", the lush soundscapes of "Jupiter" and the hardcore roots of "Until Your Heart Stops" all sprinkled nicely throughout the record. Songs like the opener "The World In Your Way" and "Paranormal" take the progressive-meets-hardcore approach and run rampid, incorporating screaming vocals and wild guitar dynamics, while moody pieces like "Down The Drain" and "Tension in the Ranks" give the album an obvious sense of balance. There's also plenty of twists and turns like the band has always been known for to keep the listener on their toes and maintain a constant level of surprise.

This was a much needed album in the Cave In discography. It has the right draw to win back the hardcore elite who are in love with "Until Your Heart Stops", and the sensible progressive appeal that attracted fans to "Jupiter" and "Antenna". The incorporation of all ranges of their sound was a really great move on the band's part, as it proves that Cave In still continue to be on of the most creative and overlooked bands in music. While it's not some glorious "Jupiter" meets "Until Your Heart Stops" mix, for what it's worth "Pitch Perfect Black" is a great treat for fans who have been wanting to see the band explore even further realms of their sound. With a rightful return to the label which they were always truly at home with, Cave In sound better than ever, and this album leaves much anticipation for what the group will pursue in the future. Until then "Pitch Perfect Black" bridges the gap between the past and present.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back in Perfect Pitch Black, September 13, 2005

By 

echelondecline "echelondecline" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perfect Pitch Black (Audio CD)

I would give this album 4.5 stars. This album maybe Cave In's second collection of demos that's been scattered online for centuries before this albums release but there's still meaning in buying this album. Some of the songs weren't released before and the old demos are polished up to a mirror shine and sound better. This album is quite refreshing after Antenna (considering a lot of fans completely left after that album and never gave the band a second chance). I can honestly say I'm a fan of Cave In...just not a fan of Antenna. This album brews a nice balance (terms of the music itself) between Until Your Heart Stops and Jupiter. It's somewhat heavy but not on the level of Beyond Hypothermia and still maintains to be catchy much like Jupiter and Tides of Tomorrow.

Everyone should get this album if you're a fan of Cave In or want reassurance that this band hasn't sold out.