Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Cave In - Antenna (2003)

The horrid spacey alt-rock era of Cave In continues in their 2003 album Antenna. It was released via RCA Records, the only time they've been signed to a major label. It really frustrates me that they were continued this sh*t in the one time they were given a chance to spread their music to more than just the metal underground. And when they started making their move back to their earlier heavier style, they were dropped from the label. But at least Hydra Head still had their back...

The move into a more commercial Foo Fighters-esque direction wasn't exactly the band's choice. Frontman Stephen Brodsky has expressed his dissatisfaction with this album, though it gave them the mainstream spotlight. Both a blessing and a curse, I suppose.

"Stained Silver" doesn't start the album off well, leaving a sh*tty stain in the band's discography. Things get a little more steady in the rhythms in "Inspire". The ballad "Joy Opposites" gives me the opposite of joy, leaning too much into Smashing Pumpkins. "Anchor" is the band's only charting single. Decent but too Green Day-ish.

Semi-acoustic ballad (another ballad?!?) "Beautiful Son" has absolutely nothing to intrigue me. Then "Seafrost" is another one of the band's 9-minute epics, adding some guitar/electronic feedback to the song's progressive structure. Sadly, it all doesn't turn out that great. "Rubber and Glue" is a total banger, taking some rhyhms from Stone Temple Pilots and making them better. "Youth Overrided" is a true anthem to get you pumped.

After those two cool tracks, the rest of the album's second half either butchers their typical elements or comes out as lame ballads. Not all hope is lost though, as they would slowly build their heavier side back up in subsequent albums, thanks to Hydra Head giving them some freedom....

Favorites (only songs I like): "Inspire", "Rubber and Glue", "Youth Overrided"