Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Cave In - Final Transmission (2019)
After their 2011 album White Silence, the members of Cave In decided to focus on other projects for a while, such as Stephen Brodsky's progressive stoner metal side-project Mutoid Man and Caleb Scofield in Old Man Gloom and Zozobra. Then in late 2017 and early 2018, the members got together to record what was meant to be demo tracks before they planned to professionally record an album. In February and March 2018, the band spent some time writing the album they were planning to make. Soon, Scofield decided that he was ready to spend some time with his family in New Hampshire, so he said goodbye to his bandmates and drove off. Little did they know, it would be his last goodbye. On his way back to his hometown, he was driving his pickup truck at a fast speed, so fast that he somehow didn't see a concrete barrier at a toll booth. The vehicle rammed right onto it and burst into flames. In an instant, Scofield... was gone.
This tragedy left a devastating impact on his family, his band, and the metal community. Bands like Converge, Every Time I Die, The Red Chord, and Isis showed their support and paid tribute, even performing in some shows hosted by Cave In and Old Man Gloom (with Isis changing their name to Celestial to avoid confusion or association with the Islamic terrorist group). And what was going to happen to the album that was still in production? Cave In made the decision to just release the demo tracks they had finished with Scofield, with the album fittingly titled Final Transmission.
Sadly, and I'm sorry for saying this, I really am, but this is not the tribute I wanted for Cave In's fallen member. Most of this album is the atmospheric spacey alt-rock sound of Jupiter, almost like a short album of unreleased B-sides for Jupiter in late 1999. Seriously, why couldn't they just stick with metalcore and put aside the alt-rock for a different project? Not everything is super bad because we have the nice emotional "All Illusion" which makes a solid segue from the title intro that is a voice memo from Scofield, his final recording. The closing "Led to the Wolves" is actually an unused track from the White Silence sessions, and I enjoy that one for its h*lla heavy hardcore sound. As much as I enjoy Scofield's work in his time with Cave In, Final Transmission is the worst album by the band, and I'm speaking my true opinion. I'm so sorry....
RIP Caleb Scofield
Favorites (only tracks I even slightly like): "All Illusion", "Led to the Wolves"