Cave In - Creative Eclipses (1999) [Expanded Remaster 2015]

Gone from Creative Eclipses are many Cave-In trademarks -- the screaming vocals, manic riffs, and brutal bottom end that previously whipped up a wide-ranging storm of chaos are all absent. Instead, this EP offers new and different directions. Expansions on Until Your Heart Stops' psychedelic leanings take place with two spacy but focused instrumental tracks. A pair of almost straightforward rock songs are present as well, at least as straightforward as Cave-In can get. If Robert Fripp did some work on Split Lip's Fate's Got a Driver, it might come close to these two songs. The band also offers a compelling acoustic track. Through it all though, they continue to truly challenge themselves and their listeners without wasting a single sound.