Cadaverette—We Are Everything But… not anything (2023)

Details

Produced by Dan Capaldi, mixed by Kurt Ballou of GodCity Studios, mastered at Gateway Studios.

Released on Barelyaliverecords on Monday 28 November 2022

For fans of Converge, The Dreaming Era Kate Bush, Deftones

Bandcamp | Website

Band

August West—Vocals
Logan Abbey—Guitar
Ian Riley—Bass
Dan Capaldi—Drums

Tracks

Sledgehammer
Against the wall
Ghost
Tapping the green vein
Crashing
Missive from the dead
Fell for a dream

Review

We Are Everything But… not anything (2023) is the third full-length album from Portland, Maine’s shoegaze/melodic hardcore/ noise rock band Cadaverette.

Hailed as an “unspeakably heavy quartet (Space Gallery)”, since 2016 Cadaverette has built a reputation based on the sheer power of their live sets throughout New England. Cadaverette’s sound is a blend of technical, controlled chaos and tension with atmospheric melodic groove. Guitarist Logan Abbey’s punishing, heavy mixture of punk, noise and even jazz-influenced guitar provides the base from which singer August West springs a medley of ethereal vocals and demonic roars.

This album is GLORIOUS! It is a chaotic mixture of the ethereal and sublime fused with noise, distortion and percussion.

Album opener, “Sledgehammer” (track 1) is hardcore-style track with angry-sounding shouted vocals and a wild guitar solo. “Against the wall” (track 2) follows in a similar suit with discordant chords, half-spoken distorted vocals that drop to a full spoken piece around two-thirds of the way through, “I don’t love you…” It’s a powerfully dynamic track that feels both delicate and crazy.

The ethereal and jazz-like guitar intro to “Ghost” (track 3) completely changes the mood, providing the perfect backdrop for Autumn West’s perfect Kate Bush-like vocals. The song builds and wanes transporting the listener on an unexpected emotional journey.

The stomping, shouting “Tapping the green vein” (track 4) reminds me in a funny way of Bob Mould’s Hüsker Dü, Sugar and solo endeavours. There is a rawness and energy to this track that is almost tangible.

Again, we are treated to a more laid back and gentle tone with “Crashing” (track 5) which is graced by West’s half-whispered and delicate vocals. There is an old school punk vibe to the honesty and immediacy of this song.

The haunting introduction to “Missive from the dead” (track 6) keeps the mood low. More crystal clear Kate Bush-like vocals that soars above a wandering guitar, bass and drum that pick out the perfect path through this track.

Keeping the heaviest riff until last, “Fell for a dream” (track 7) opens with a heavy-as-granite note that fades to black before emerging again as a spidery, all-over-the-shop guitar riff. West’s vocals holler over the top and we are treated to a final angry-sound performance. That is until the track changes direction half-way through, alternating between clean, ethereal pickings and dark, heavy chords. This is the showpiece song demonstrating the band’s range and songwriting maturity within a single track.

Conclusion

As I said, this album is glorious. It spoke to me straight off the bat. I listed it again and again and again today. And even now, it feels both familiar and excitingly new. Brilliant stuff!

Review score: 95%

Video

Disclosure

MDPR contacted me inviting me to preview Cadaverette’s forthcoming album, thank you. I have no connections to either MDPR or Cadaverette. I’m not being paid to review this, but I did get a free digital copy of the album to review which is pretty cool. Many thanks to Zach from MDPR, and to Cadaverette for continuing to create fresh, exciting new music.