Perfect Pitch Black is the fourth studio album by American rock band Cave In

Cave In

Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995, in Methuen, Massachusetts. After several members changes in the late 90's, their lineup solidified with the 1998 release of Until Your Heart Stops through Hydra Head Records. Their early albums were prominent releases in the independent...

. The album was released on September 13, 2005 through Hydra Head Records

Hydra Head Records

Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...

, and was the band's final release before going on hiatus in 2006. Cave In later reformed in 2009 and released the EP, Planets of Old

Planets of Old

Planets of Old is an extended play released by American alternative rock band Cave In. This EP is the first release of new material from the band since their split in 2006.-Recording and release:...

.

Background

For the band's third studio album, Antenna

Antenna (Cave In album)

Antenna is the third studio album and first major label album by American rock band Cave In. Released in 2003, it marks Cave In's first and only album under RCA before being dropped and resigning fully with Hydra Head. Antenna marked a more commercial shift in Cave In's style which, while...

, the band left Hydra Head Records and signed with major label RCA Records

RCA Records

RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...

. Cave In was disappointed with Antenna (despite generally positive reviews) citing too much time and money spent on making the album, and too much control over the music from RCA. The band started writing heavier songs that incorporated more of Cave In's earlier sound, but RCA refused to release the album and wanted little to do with the demos the band had been recording. RCA Records granted Cave In ownership rights of the demos they had already recorded and dropped the band from the label in 2004. Originally unsure of how to release the album, Cave In later signed back to Hydra Head Records to release Perfect Pitch Black.

Lyrically, several songs on Perfect Pitch Black vent about the band's frustrations with their major label stint. According to guitarist and vocalist Stephen Brodsky, the act of trepanning is to drill a hole in the skull to alleviate stored up pressure in the brain, and the song "Trepanning" lyrically "fully expresses our sentiment at the time of this song-writing period."

The songs "Down the Drain" and "Droned" were originally released on Bootleg CD by Cave In during spring 2003, and "Trepanning" was originally released in 2004 on a SXSW

South by Southwest

South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...

 Hydra Head sampler (demo version), a Daymare Recordings sampler and a Deathwish Inc.

Deathwish Inc.

Deathwish, Inc. is a independent record label founded by Jacob Bannon and Tre McCarthy. The label was originally used to release early albums by Bannon's own band Converge starting in late 1991. It wasn't until late 1999 that McCarthy and Bannon discussed turning Deathwish into a full-fledged label...

 sampler.

Reception

Track listing

All songs written by Cave In, except where noted.

1. "Perfect Pitch Black" – 0:32
2. "The World Is in Your Way" – 5:09
3. "Off to Ruin" – 4:38
4. "Trepanning" – 4:07
5. "Paranormal" – 7:02
6. "Down the Drain" – 4:27
7. "Droned" – 2:59
8. "Ataraxia" – 5:26
9. "Tension in the Ranks" – 3:16
10. "Screaming in Your Sleep" – 3:23

Vinyl bonus track

11. "On the Prowl"

Japanese bonus tracks

11. "Prognosis" – 4:21
12. "Cave-In" (originally written by Codeine
    Codeine (band)
    Codeine was an American indie rock/slowcore band formed in 1989. They released two full-length albums — Frigid Stars in 1990 and The White Birch in 1994.-History:...
    
    )

Cave In

• Stephen Brodsky – guitar, vocals
• John-Robert Conners – drums
• Adam McGrath – guitar
• Caleb Scofield
  Caleb Scofield
  Caleb Scofield is a bassist and singer mostly known for playing bass & contributing vocals in the alternative metal band Cave In, and is now most active with his own sludge metal band Zozobra. Caleb is also a part of the sludge band Old Man Gloom. He currently lives in Boston with his wife and...
  
   – bass, vocals

Production and recording

• Cave In – production
• Andrew Schneider – production, engineering, mixing
• Nick Zampiello – mastering at New Alliance East in Boston, Massachusetts
• Track 6 and 7 recorded at New Alliance in January 2003
• Tracks 2, 4, 5, 9 and 10 recorded at Mad Oak in Allston, Massachusetts in January 2004
• Track 3 and 8 recorded at New Alliance in April 2004
• Additional recording on tracks 2–5, 9 and 10 at Translator Audio in Brooklyn, New York in April 2005
• All songs mixed in May 2005 at Translator Audio except track 6 mixed in January 2004 at New Alliance and track 8 mixed in April 2004 at New Alliance

Art and design

• Aaron Turner
  Aaron Turner
  Aaron Turner is a musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal band Isis, while also participating in several other bands and projects such as Old Man Gloom and Lotus Eaters.Though raised...
  
  – drawings and layout construction
• Adam McGrath – photographs
• Pete Stahl – photographs
• "A random European fan" – photographs