A Vast And Experimental Release from The Cavernous
- BuzzSlayers
- 15 minutes ago
- 8 min read
The Cavernous recently released an EP that blends a multitude of electronic influences with elements of industrial, alternative, and dreamscape, all rolled into one record that delivers vast and almost haunting atmospheres along with robust layers of texture that build and create soundscapes you end up falling right into.
The EP is dubbed The Amaranthine Trilogy Volume One: (Un)broken Circles, and it certainly doesn't waste a lot of time with its first track, "Something Special".
This single alone is enough to open the door for the rest of the EP and give you a glimpse of what you can expect throughout its course.
You have that spacious and almost ambient undertone, mostly due to elements of reverb effect on some of the instrumentation, but also the way the vocals are drawn out in terms of their melodies and approach.
There's a great sort of dulcimer sound coming from the keys, and they follow the beat in an almost bouncing rhythm.
The percussion also adds to that fastness as the snare drum cuts through everything, as does the kick, and I feel like the beat is one of the heavier aspects of the track, adding a lot of drive to the song.
As the track unfolds, you start getting bigger vocal harmonies that pull you deeper into the atmosphere of it all, and you start feeling the actual depth of the song by about halfway through.
I definitely love the fact that you have an alternative backbone here. You can hear the element of edginess peeking its head out, lurking just beneath the surface, but it's not over the top.
A lot of this record is very well balanced in terms of its tones.
"Reincarnation", kicks in with an experimental synth that does indeed remind me of more of an electronic or even industrial tonality because of its edginess, although it does have a little bit of color to it. Meanwhile, there are synth pads floating through the song's ether, giving it a subtle, delicate, and almost whispering quality.
This is one of the tracks that definitely starts giving you a bit of that cinematic backbone.
Suddenly, the synths burst out with energetic and far more edgy approaches, the drums become heavier, and you definitely have more of an industrial influence shining through.
These songs are arranged very well. This song, in particular, feels almost like a metal track. It's got those spacious and subtle verses, and then when the climactic areas come in, it's bursts of energy with a bit of a destructive force behind them.
"Minus The Moon" has a beautiful flow to it, and it feels completely natural when you listen.
This is one of the songs that definitely breeds a lot of layers for you to soak in. There are brilliant textures here, and it's incredibly fun to put on headphones and swim through everything.
There's plenty of this record that feels drifting, slightly droning, definitely hinting at a dreamy undertone, and you still have that slightly dark overcoat on top of everything that adds the element of unsettlement.
It's amazing how these guys can create such moods and how they're able to sculpt sound to create something that feels like it's all their own.
Now, they're not reinventing the wheel, exactly. But what they are doing is creating a world that you can escape into, and doing so in a way that feels deepening and engaging.
I'll say it once more: if you listen to this record with headphones on, you'll really be able to soak everything in the way it was meant to be heard.
This is a record that can pull you away from wherever you are and whatever you're doing and put you in a different space for a little chunk of time.
Some of it is more experimental, like "Olympus Moon", utilizing slightly rambunctious but still honed in synthesizers and keys to build a sort of unique aesthetic.
There are definitely more than a few surprises around its corners, and by the time you listen to the entire EP, you have to snap yourself back into reality again.
This is what I mean by an escape. You lose yourself in a record like this. I think that's part of what it's meant for.
I certainly wouldn't skip any songs. These play out almost like chapters in a book, and I wouldn't skip chapters in a book, so neither would I suggest skipping songs on this record.
This is a release that demonstrates flux in creativity and the ability to create almost Fantastical haunts that tell stories and stay with you.
This is absolutely cinematic, experimental electronic at its very best, not created with walls around it.
This is a record with fewer boundaries than whatever you may be used to, especially in terms of how deep they want to go and how long they want you to be embedded in the songs.
Some of these tracks reach over 8 minutes in length.
This is a record I absolutely have to shake off when it was over.
I love that because it gives you a great experience.
After listening to the release, I wanted to have a sit-down with the creators to find out where it actually came from, what it all means, and what might be coming next.
So, while you listen to this EP, have a read-through of our interview with the cavernous below.
Remember where you heard it first.
Thanks so much for taking the time! Let's jump right into Amaranthine Trilogy Volume One: (Un)broken Circles! This had such a theatrical and dark vibe and felt kind of cinematic to me!
Where did this record come from and what was it about?
JB: A few of these songs have been around in different incarnations going on six years now. A couple of them are a bit more recent. This record came from years of trial-and-error and evolution within our live shows, and it's our first release that really represents what our live performance sounds like. We used to perform entirely instrumental, but since Rob wrote lyrics for everything a couple years ago, we've found that we can connect more with the audience and lean into themes that add depth to our music. Also, it has allowed us to add more melody without requiring extra arms to play more synthesizers. I'll let Rob elaborate on the record's themes.
RM: The Amaranthine Trilogy overall investigates ideas of contrasts and contradictions found in truth.
The first volume is witnessing and perhaps utilizing the force of repetition to create and destroy within our own existence, like how an addict can ruin their life by repeating a certain habit, while another person might use habits to build discipline in learning and personal growth.
But then again when I write lyrics priority number one is to make cool sounds so I write the lyrics to have vibe more than a meaning, then after everything sounds/feels right, I might assign a meaning. If that makes sense.
I am hearing a few different styles on this record. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
JB: Both of us have such a huge list of influences and a wide taste in music. Not everything is pertinent for this project, though. Stuff like Mogwai's electronic side. Kid-A-era Radiohead. Some grit and textures of stuff like Deftones or NIN.
Are you performing live right now?
JB: We just did a run of weekends all over BC. We've got two more shows at the end of May here in the Okanagan, then we're going to take the summer off. We've already got some shows lined up for the fall.
(RM): last two shows till the fall:
Friday May 29th @ The Legacy Den in Penticton with Task Manager
Saturday May 30th @ Dunnenezies in Kelowna with Little Jungles
How did this all start for you as a band?
JB: I met Rob when I was in a bar-rock band with his roommates. They had lost their drummer and asked me to join them. We talked a few times at their house, Rob heard me cover some Radiohead on guitar, and we got to talking about music. He brought me along to a show in Vernon for his prog-rock band High Horse and in the van we just went down a rabbit hole. I showed him Tortoise, he showed me Battles; the chemistry was there. In 2019 he asked me to come jam for an electronic project he wanted to try and start, we set the electronic drums and synths up in the living room and had a few drunk friends bobbing their heads along. We've been evolving since then.
Did you work with a producer on this EP, or was this all you?
JB: This was entirely us. We'd lay down the tracks of what we play live, and find ways of making that better. Then we'd toss up ideas for samples and little ear-candy bits to add to tracks and see what stuck, or could be massaged into things that sounded cool. I've got a bit more of an ear for the mixing, so I mixed it all myself with mixing notes from friends and stuff (in various stages of progress). I'm no pro, so it could be way better, but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out.
RM: We would love to work with a producer, but our budget and time restraints wouldn't allow it for the time being.
What's next for you? Working on more new releases?
JB: Like I said we're going to take the summer off to allow us both a bit of time to occupy our brain with something besides The Cavernous; but, we'll be back at it in the fall and polish up for that run of shows. Then we want to focus on writing some new stuff to showcase next year. At some point we'll also begin the recording process for Vol 2 and 3 of the EP trilogy.
What kind of advice would you give to other up and coming bands or artists trying to get heard?
JB: Perseverance. Throw shit at the wall and see what sticks, and cut what doesn't. With our live shows we like to take people on a musical journey. We're not top-40 bar-rock, and it has taken us a long time to begin to establish an audience for the kind of stuff we do, but it's beginning to blossom. I've noticed a significant change this year. Just persist and evolve - the cream will rise to the top.
RM: Quantity leads to quality, you can rehearse till your fingers bleed but if you don't try your stuff live you'll never know what works or what doesn't. Songs sitting on your hard drive while you endlessly tinker with them will go sterile and lose meaning to you. We drop at least a single every year.
Every time you drop a single or album you learn something new so the more you do it, the more you will learn about releasing your music. Set a realistic time line for your intentions and stick to it. So many bands fade out due to inaction.
What would you say people can expect to hear on this EP?
JB: Heavy industrial electronica and moody synth odysseys. Music that invokes feeling and imagery; a psychedelic journey.
RM: Our voices. This is the first release we have included lyrics/vocals. We are really proud of it.
Before we go, what would you want to express to fans of the music?
JB: We're ecstatic you've enjoyed this record, and what we do. A big THANK YOU to everyone who has listened to the record, purchased music or merch, or come out to our shows.
RM: In an age of endless information, art and expression, the fact that you checked us out and got something out of what we do is miraculous. Thank you. I think in the end we want to give back what music gave us: inspiration, awe and communion.
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