For fans of Cave In, the early 2000s delivered both excitement and confusion. After redefining metalcore with their 1998 debut Until Your Heart Stops, the Massachusetts innovators pivoted sharply into shimmering space rock with 2000’s Jupiter — a move that initially sparked backlash before becoming one of their most celebrated works. The band’s recent 25th anniversary celebrations for Jupiter have only cemented its legacy.
That bold shift in sound also opened an unexpected door: a major label deal with RCA Records, who released the band’s 2003 album Antenna. While still carrying traces of their cosmic experimentation, Antenna leaned further into alt-rock melody — enough so that Cave In soon found themselves supporting Foo Fighters, Muse, and even playing Lollapalooza.
But the wider mainstream push didn’t go as planned.
Speaking to Metal Hammer, guitarist/vocalist Adam McGrath explained how “Anchor” became the album’s lead single — and the pressure that came with it:
“Our A&R rep constantly said we needed a song like Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun’ and he felt ‘Anchor’ was that song. He thought that ‘Anchor’ would be the best way to introduce Cave In to a national radio audience, but I know we all felt there were better songs and singles on the record.”
Despite a big rollout, “Anchor” didn’t land with fans the way RCA had hoped. McGrath recalled the response — and the criticism that followed:
“When it dropped it barely had a lukewarm response. There were certainly cries of ‘sell-out’ and people wondering how watered down we had become.… Excitement from the label dwindled after the first single dropped and our A&R rep left RCA shortly after Antenna’s release. All these events left Cave In rudderless in the major label machine.”
After that whirlwind attempt at commercial stardom, Cave In reemerged stronger — and angrier. Their 2005 comeback record Perfect Pitch Black dragged them back into darker territory, building the musical foundation they continue to evolve from. Reflecting on that transition, frontman/guitarist Stephen Brodsky said:
“The best thing to come out of [everything that happened] is Perfect Pitch Black. In the wake of Antenna, I feel fortunate that we found the strength to stay together and make that statement.… maybe we just came full circle.”
Despite the turbulence, Cave In’s major label era has become a fascinating chapter in their evolution — a reminder that risk, even when met with resistance, can shape the art that follows.
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Fuck I havent thought about Cave In for like 20 years