58. Cave In - "Heavy Pendulum"

One of the many joys of compiling this list is that it connects me into bands that I may hitherto have overlooked. Cave In are a veritable institution but one, if I am honest, that I have not visited before. They are very much part of that post-hardcore fraternity that, as I already said, seem to exist in parallel rather than part of my world. “Heavy Pendulum” is a magnificent amalgamation of mind-altering prog and searing hard-core. 

The vocals oscillate between gruff and clean and the music has a stellar, almost spacey feel to it. It’s all very big and transcendental and designed to enable you to think big thoughts about the state of the universe. Aside from the occasional gargled vocal, it is actually a very smooth and reflective album full of wonderfully contemplative refrains. Far far more complex, intricate and ornate than I was expecting.