Before their next album, Cave In began experimenting with their sound with Creative Eclipses, a five-song EP which indicated a new space rock direction. Their next album was Jupiter, released in 2000. The album received a good deal of press including a feature in Spin Magazine, in which they were described as an "emo-metal Radiohead," which Cave In would reject. The album also caught the attention of major labels who began courting the band after its release. The band released the six-song EP Tides of Tomorrow on Hydra Head Records before accepting a deal from RCA Records.
In 2003, Cave In released their major debut album Antenna. It had more success than their previous albums and earned them a spot on the second stage of 2003's Lollapalooza tour. After Lollapalooza, they toured Europe in support of Foo Fighters and Muse. Shortly after, the band began to revisit their metal roots during concerts, and new heavy material led to a mutual agreement to cut ties with RCA Records. Cave In returned to Hydra Head Records and released Perfect Pitch Black on September 13, 2005.
Following the release of Perfect Pitch Black, Conners departed from the band due to an injury and temporarily relocating to Germany. He was replaced by Converge drummer Ben Koller. In November of 2006, Cave In announced an indefinite hiatus.
In April of 2009, Cave In announced that they had ended their hiatus. With Conners back in the band, they had recorded a four-song EP titled Planets of Old which was initially made available on vinyl at their reunion show on July 19, 2009 at Great Scott in Allston, MA. The EP was released on CD in January 2010 with a bonus DVD of the show. The band released their fifth album White Silence on May 24, 2011.
After tours in support of White Silence, Cave In entered an undeclared semi-hiatus state as all of the band members shifted focus on their other respective side-projects. Brodsky had moved to New York City and formed Mutoid Man with Ben Koller and bassist Nick Cageao, Conners and McGrath had formed Nomad Stones, and Scofield was a member of Old Man Gloom and his own band Zozobra. On December 7, 2014, they performed live for the first time in 3 years, opening for Doomriders' tenth anniversary show. They wouldn't begin formally writing new material until February 2018.
On March 28, 2018, Caleb Scofield was killed in a car accident in Bedford, New Hampshire, on his way home from jamming with Cave In in their Boston rehearsal space. The band then put the new album on hold in favor of touring in honor of him, his wife, and their two children. Major memorial performances included a Boston show with Converge, a Los Angeles show with a one-off reunion of Isis, and an acoustic performance with Brodsky and McGrath at that year's Jacob Bannon-curated Roadburn Festival. This set was recorded and released as Live at Roadburn 2018: Tribute to Caleb Scofield.
On January 2, 2019, Cave In announced plans to release their first studio album in eight years. This album was released as Final Transmission on June 7, 2019 through Hydra Head Records. Mixed by Andrew Schneider, mastered by James Plotkin, and with artwork by Aaron Turner, it consists of practice-space demos featuring Scofield on every song. Hydra Head has been mostly inactive since 2012 but, as the band's main home for the majority of its career, they worked together to release this album. Half of the proceeds will be given to his wife and children.
Woodwork
Cave In Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As "one" and "I" are both the same
She curves just like the wick
Of a burning candle's dancing flame
These vultures were in love,
Always circling high above
Picked each other apart,
Hungry for the other's heart
Real fun, let's all underachieve
Failed to dispel the myth
Every time is always ending with
The sharp end of a star
Stabbing me right through my heart
She's gone and I'm beyond
A color scheme of loneliness
Now my Roman numeral is lost
As "one" and "I" are now divorced
Your wishes are my command
Real fun, let's all underachieve
Crawling out of rotted woodwork
It stings to breathe
When I don't even know what to do with myself
Real fun, let's all underachieve
The song Woodwork by Cave In is about the pain and confusion of a failed relationship. The opening line "My Roman numeral came as 'one' and 'I' are both the same" is a reference to the number one, which can be represented as both "I" and "1" in Roman numerals. This symbolizes the singer's identity being intertwined with his partner's, as they were once united as one entity. The following lines "She curves just like the wick of a burning candle's dancing flame" further emphasizes the intense attraction and infatuation the singer had for his partner.
However, the relationship deteriorated as they "picked each other apart, hungry for the other's heart". The singer feels that they both failed to dispel the myth of their perfect relationship and always ended up hurting each other. The line "The sharp end of a star stabbing me right through my heart" represents the pain and heartbreak he feels from the relationship ending. The singer is left with a sense of loneliness and isolation, represented by the color scheme of his life being limited to shades of one color.
The chorus of the song, "Real fun, let's all underachieve" is a sarcastic commentary on the futility of relationships when they ultimately end in heartbreak. The final lines "Crawling out of rotted woodwork, it stings to breathe when I don't even know what to do with myself" signify the aftermath of a failed relationship, where the singer is struggling to rediscover his identity and move on with his life.
Line by Line Meaning
My Roman numeral came
The singer feels labeled with a symbol or number, but it is unclear what that means for his identity.
As "one" and "I" are both the same
The numeral the singer identifies with is a symbol for unity, but his personal life is in disarray and disconnected.
She curves just like the wick
The woman the singer loves is alluring and entrancing like the flame of a candle.
Of a burning candle's dancing flame
The beauty of the woman is fragile and fleeting.
These vultures were in love,
The singer and his lover were destructive and preyed on each other's weaknesses.
Always circling high above
They were incapable of staying grounded and steady with each other.
Picked each other apart,
Their relationship was filled with criticism and hostility.
Hungry for the other's heart
Despite their destructive tendencies, they were deeply connected and dependent on each other.
Real fun, let's all underachieve
The singer is being sarcastic and bitter, mocking the idea of being content with mediocrity.
Failed to dispel the myth
The singer was unable to break free from the illusion that their love was genuine and healthy.
Every time is always ending with
Their relationship consistently led to heartbreak and disappointment.
The sharp end of a star
The singer is describing the intense pain he feels when the fantasy of their love is shattered.
Stabbing me right through my heart
The singer is experiencing emotional turmoil and heartbreak.
She's gone and I'm beyond
The woman the singer loved has left him, and he is now in a state of despair and detachment.
A color scheme of loneliness
The singer is experiencing a profound sense of isolation and despair.
Now my Roman numeral is lost
The singer has lost his sense of identity and purpose.
As "one" and "I" are now divorced
The symbol of unity is no longer associated with the singer, and he is broken and alone.
Your wishes are my command
The singer is being passive and subservient in his relationship, trying to please his lover at his own expense.
Crawling out of rotted woodwork
The singer is emerging from a state of decay and neglect.
It stings to breathe
The singer is in pain and finding it difficult to move on.
When I don't even know what to do with myself
The singer is lost and unsure of how to move forward with his life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ADAM MARC MCGRATH, CALEB MARK SCOFIELD, JOHN ROBERT CONNERS, STEPHEN BRODSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind