When tech metallers The Eating Cave named their second album The Miscalculation, it makes me think they are talking about something specific. Of course they must be talking about the botched rhythm method that led to my unfortunate spawning. Just ask my parents.

Anyway, this band has so much potential. As a big fan of their debut, I scooped this from the promo pile with my grimy purple latex gloves, lubed up my ear holes, and this metaphor no longer makes sense. What I’m trying to say is that I took it, so I am reviewing it. I hope that clarifies.

With it only being 7 songs and a brief 36 minutes, it’s in no danger of overstaying its welcome. No single track is unnecessarily long, either. The first one doesn’t waste much time, but what’s apparent almost immediately is the production. It may be a little drum-heavy, but that’s a minor quibble. Everything is still audible. The vocal highs and lows are reminiscent of Trevor Strnad, even if the riffing is more on the tech-death side.

The fastest track, “Implications,” does have a nice groove. Low growls usher it in, but it goes away just as quickly as it began when a stellar solo takes over. There is a hook, which is cool, but it’s not given much breathing room within the chaos.

On “Warfare,” there are grooves and of course solos. The one around 3 minutes in has a push-pull, not quite syncopated rhythm with the drums, but once again, it doesn’t last. Therein lies a major issue.

Moving on to the final track, “Indoctrination.” It’s over 7 minutes of going for your throat. Until about 4 minutes in when they slow down a little for one of the best sections of the album with some cleaner, fluid guitar leads. They slow it down again about a minute after that and you can just tell this section is going to end it, with a dissonant picked riff which slowly fades out.

As I mentioned above, The Eating Cave frequently falls into some of the most glaring technical death metal pitfalls. There are lots of incredible riffs, solos, and grooves sprinkled throughout, but they don’t last long. For instance, in “The Discovery” around 4 minutes in, there’s a clean section that feels like a picking-up change-inducing groove is following, but it just doesn’t. Although slightly disappointed, I can’t help but feel encouraged. The band has chops and excellent ideas but needs further development. They would benefit perhaps from a label home such as Unique Leader in my view, but maybe they just don’t want that. Either way, The Eating Cave is still a star on the rise and I want to see them thrive.

[Visit the band's website]

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