Caveat
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Caveat

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"Caveat - Caveat EP Review"

Evaluation:

Canadian quartet Caveat's EP is an ambitious attempt at combining a unique take on heavy metal with a triple vocal approach.

Analysis:

Caveat's music combines elements of funk-metal (anyone remember Mindfunk?) with traditional thrash (ala early Megadeth and Metallica) and adds a little progressive death-metal (evident primarily in the stop-start rhythmic motifs, odd-tempo feels and the prominence of the cleverly arranged rhythm guitars), resulting in a frenetic, aggressive assault, driven by the slapped bass of Terry Baldwin (reminiscent of Tony Choy's work with Atheist), and the scratch and claw twin-guitar antics of primary vocalist Greg Musgrave and sole non-vocalist Joe Sikorski.

Vocal influences are easier to spot on Caveat's eponymous EP … Devin Townsend's rapid-fire rasp is most evident in opener "The One" while "Immortalized" boasts clean vocals cut from the same cloth as Serj Tankian's (System Of A Down) outlining a middle-eastern melodic structure. A little Mike Patton circa Faith No More's "Epic" rears its head in "Into The Black."

Rating:

4+/5 (the plus is for avoiding the most egregious lyrical offences…for the most part)

Summary:

Excellent effort. My hat is off to Caveat for taking chances with their arrangements, and for combining disparate elements cohesively, resulting in a heavy, intriguing twist on modern metal while paying homage (unwittingly or otherwise) to the past masters…

Go get this and support them…

by Jan-Mikael Erakare
(January 2006) - ProgressiveWorld.net


"Caveat EP Review"

CAVEAT/Caveat EP

5 tracks of some warped out metal, sort of like Human Remains meets modern metal. The vocals are wacked out wild. The production is very good as well. The band is very fresh to my ears and I like what they are doing. The sonic boom blasts parts are wickedly cool and I love everything about this and 5 songs isn't enough.

by Chris Forbes
(December 2005) - MetalCore Fanzine


"Caveat - Calgary's heavy metal heavyweights...are not dream theatre"

Upon first listen of Caveat's self-titled EP, I didn't know whether or not I actually liked the record. The sound is distinctive, the vocal harmonies are layered in a way that displayed the talent this band has, the time signatures are ever changing and controlled, it's madness.

Despite all that, I couldn't shake the feeling I had just heard the new Dream Theatre record.

After listening to it again I knew that my initial misgivings were unfounded. I discovered the only similarities between this four-man band and those legendary progressive metal heavyweights mentioned earlier is the vocal layers, of which there are several.

With each successive listen I gained appreciation for the unique, open to interretation and completely spine-fracturing sound that has made this group a favourite on the alternative scene.

Anyone who frequents shows in Calgary has almost certainly been exposed to music by a member of Caveat, or by the band itself, which has played around 75 shows in its five-year career. Featuring such contenders as Greg Musgrave (of Black Sky), Casey Rogers (also of Black Sky), Terry Baldwin (also of Verbal Deception) and Joe Sikorski (also of Black Sky and former lead guitarist for the legendary thrash band Thorazine), Caveat certainly has a pre-established fan base, not to mention a slough of talent.

To discuss the new record (which was released at Brew Brothers on September 23), I sat down with Greg, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, as well as terry, bassist and vocalist. Both members were eager to discuss the music they are obviously devoted to, as well as every other subject that reared its head.

"Listeners will hear something different every time they listen to (the record). There is a lot of depth," explains Terry when asked about what makes this album different from every other.
"We don't want it to be excessive but we do want it to require repeated listening."

This goal was certainly achieved by the band, who recorded the album over a four day span at Sundae Studios, owned by former Chixdiggit drummer dave Alcock.
Despite the short recording time, the album is a work three years in the making. This is partly attributed to the re-recorded versions of "Immortalized" and "State of Grace," which were released on 2004s The Biggest Secret.

Along with the three previously unreleased songs including "Into The Black," "The One" and "State of Grace," the EP rings in at 26 minutes of metal that gets in your face and stays there. In particular "Into The Black" is a song that reminds the listener of how progressive should sound - multi-faceted, filled with bizarre lyrics heavy enough to rip new appandages in your body.

"I kind of like to leave the lyrics up to interpretation. Intentionally, it is up to you to get out of it what it brings to you," Greg says.

This is definitely not asking much from listeners, who have taken the band's lyrics in several ways.

"I've actually had a couple of people accuse us of being overtly religious. If you read the lyrics to "The One" you could really interpret that as a religious song. The lyrics actually stem from a conceptual acoustic bit I was doing, but it's really just a story about the power of music. Again, you can interpret it any way you want. If a religious person thinks it's about the coming of the Lord, then they can do that. Or, you can think its about Neo from The Matrix. That's your call. Regardless, if it touches you on some level, then that's awesome."

A small hope for a band with big potential. Although laughingly Terry says that none of them have any delusions about getting rich from their work, Caveat is on its way to the top. Combined with a killer line-up and an excellent new record, the band certainly has all the makings of a successful, fill-time touring metal band, and that deserves your attention.

by Sarah Kitteringham
(October 2005) - BeatRoute Magazine


"Caveat - Self Titled EP - Scarab Productions"

After popping in this CD for the first time, it took only one minute for me to understand the complexity and diversity that is Caveat. Only one minute gave me a taste of something new in metal music. In fact, I can't even call Caveat metal, so I am forced to choose a new genre...shredtastic sludge-core.

These four guys make a great team, each member offering something fresh and different to the band. Lead vocalist Greg Musgrave sings like no one else I have heard. The only person who comes even close is Serj Tankian of System Of A Down. In Musgrave's voice, over a dozen different people and sounds emit from only one mouth. I hear Alice Cooper, Oderus Urungus (Gwar), Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir), Frank Sinatra, Satan, and a chain saw tearing through my ears. It's beatiful.

Caveat have the perfect mix of shredding and style. The best thing about this band is the fact that their live show is equally up to par with their CD, and visa versa. Not many bands can say that. Every note is struck with perfection and intoxicating intensity. This band will make you laugh, whether you want to or not. They will make you happy whether you're a metal fan or not. They have balls. I like balls.

Four out of Five Stars

by Dillon Adams
(November 10th, 2005) - The Reflector


"Caveat - s/t (8/10) - Canada - 2005"

Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Self-production
Playing time: 26:42
Band homepage: Caveat

Tracklist:

1. The One
2. Into The Black
3. State Of Grace
4. Immortalized
5. New Breed

As mentioned a few times, Calgary’s Metal scene has a whole lot of interesting bands on offer and CAVEAT without a doubt are among the most original of them and they definitely are not newcomers to the whole thing. The band was founded by Greg Musgrave (ex TOKE, STONEWATER, ONE STEP DOWN and now in BLACKSKY) on guitar and vocals, plus bassist/singer Terry Baldwin (ex CRYPTOMNESIA), drummer Casey Rogers (ex STONEWATER, AMORAL MINORITY, SELF CONTROL, now also BLACKSKY) and guitarist Joe Sikorski (ex THORAZINE, now BLACKSKY), so pretty much veterans of the scene.

As far as the music is concerned, CAVEAT’s sound undoubtedly is not easy to digest, because it is pretty progressive, with growls and clear vocals as well as three-layered vocal harmonies, at times with an almost experimental touch in the timing changes, but the quartet never overdoes the technicality, but still remain catchy enough to appeal to non-musicians, but you have to invest some time and attention to find the entrance to the music.

But as soon as you have done that, an interesting soundscape, which on the one hand has the potential to appeal to a lot of people, but on the other hand also could manage to send some of them screaming. The opener “The One” is a very good example for this mix, not only musically, but even more so vocally CAVEAT cover the whole spectrum here, from Musgrave’s powerful Death Metal bellow to Baldwin’s clear voice and then the harmonies together with drummer Rogers, this quartet is anything but the usual mainstream. On “Into The Black“ they increase the heaviness, while “Immortalized” starts out surprisingly calm and catchy before turning into a CAVEAT typical brain twister.

Surely not suited for everyone, but this very well produced EP is a piece original, heavy Metal that shows that Calgary’s scene grows more and more and also features more different styles than ever, even better if the proof is delivered in such quality!

by Alexander Melzer
(Posted online Dec. 04, 2005) - The Metal Observer


"Caveat - Caveat EP - Indepenent"

Imagine for a moment if you will that there was an Octagon ring akin to the Ultimate Fighting ring, where men beat each other to death with their practiced holds and kicks and submissions and grapples. Now, in lieu of punches and physical smashings, there are solos and drum fills and walls of tortured guitars, high and darklordesque low screams. I am willing to predict that if there was indeed a UFMB=Ultimate Fighting Metal Bands ring, Caveat would be reigning champ. Of course, their ability to be king of the ring is not just based on sheer will and strength, it is in the variety
of their moves.

This 5 song EP manages to give such a train-wreck of styles, the low guttural screams sounding like a voice modulator concealing the identity of a witness, to high pitched and clear Jethro Tull/Freddie Mercury enunciation. There is wailing guitar solos, lengthy bass and drum bridges that would get a head nod from Les Claypool himself. The opening track is immediately aggressive, shocking the listener into the level of metal to follow. You may assume that this collection, only bearing 5 tracks, isn't enough to get a real feel for the ensemble. However, look up the meaning of
Caveat in a Latin dictionary and you'll realize the real message in the starred circle.

by Braden Jones
(December 2005 Issue) - REK Magazine


"Caveat Conquor"

You have to wonder if Greg Musgrave will pause slightly before taking the stage for a show Dec. 31 and allow himself a moment to reflect.

After all, the gig — a New Year’s party at the Underground — will be the capper on what’s been a pretty banner year for his metal band, Caveat.

“Out of the four years that we’ve been around, definitely in the last year there’s been huge progress for us, which has been encouraging,” the guitarist and vocalist says.

Most notable among 2005’s events are a management deal, the cementing of a lineup which had seen them go through four drummers, and finally the late-year release of a self-titled five-song EP.

The monster, technically stellar 26-minute affair, features three new songs alongside a pair of redone tracks from their 2004 disc The Biggest Secret in an attempt to showcase how far they’ve come since its release, thanks in part to the addition of guitarist Joe Sikorski ex of local vets Thorazine.

“A lot of people seem to dig the double-guitar onslaught,” Musgrave says, noting the move has helped take them in a more progressive direction, with predictable structure giving away to sonic layers and experimentation.

“When you’re playing with good musicians you want to stretch it, you want to push it, you want to move it forward.

“And that just seems to be the direction that we’re going.”

And that direction has helped propel Caveat — rounded out by drummer Casey Rogers and bassist Terry Baldwin — to among the frontrunners of the local scene.

The scene itself is one that’s also enjoyed something of an encouraging year, moving out slightly from the shadows of its indie rock cousin, finding a growing and more united audience hungry for the harder and heavier stuff, and more aware of where to look for it.

“That’s been a big part of the success in the last year,” says Musgrave.

“I know that the website albertametal.net has had a huge impact on that because it’s really taken it from a scene and elevated it to a community.

“For the longest time I think the people that were into metal in Calgary weren’t even aware that just outside their backdoor they could see the stuff locally — and that it’s quality.

“It’s not just a bunch of guys in a garage band that know three chords.

“There’s a lot of quality acts in this city.”

by Mike Bell
(December 30, 2005) - The Calgary Sun


"Top Cow-town Releases"

Caveat
S/P
Scarab Metal Productions

Caveat's second E.P. takes the best aspects from metal both old (Metallica) and new (System of a Down) and atom smashes them into something at once familiar and different, like you've heard it before but you haven't. Bonus points for unusual riffing and a diverse and theatrical vocal attack.

by Jordon Lane
(January 2006 Issue) - Beatroute Magazine


Discography


CAVEAT RELEASES:

Caveat released their full-length debut, entitled "The Biggest Secret" in 2004.

September of 2005 saw Caveat release a 5 song self-titled EP, which generally had a much harder, progressive sound.

Subsequently, the "Caveat" EP was named one of the Top 2005 Calgary Releases in the January 2006 issue of Beatroute Magazine. (Caveat was the only metal band on the list)

COMPILATIONS:

Caveat's "The One", a track from their self-titled EP appeared on The Fire Union's "Autumn. Five" compilation album.

The track also appeared on KnuckleTracks #94, a CD Sampler that accompanied the April issue of Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles Magazine, Canada's premiere metal publication.

Caveat's "The One" also appeared on the Alberta Metal compilation "The Greatest Underground Show on Earth", released by Cyclone Records on Feb 28th, 2006.

As well as the Canadian compilations, Caveat was recently approached by Sinaria, an upcoming NY metal band, to submit a track to an American compilation album, which was distributed at Sinful Saturday's April Fools Metal Fest, April 1st 2006 in Levittown, NY, USA.

RADIO:

Caveat's self titled EP has charted at:

#1 on CFBX Kamloop's Loud/Metal Chart
#3 on CKXU Lethbridge's Loud/Metal Chart,
#3 on CHRW London's Loud/Metal Chart
#8 on CJSF Vancouver's Loud/Metal Chart
#10 on CILU Thunder Bay's Loud/Metal Chart

Caveat's music can also be heard on:

Rampage Radio KUSF 90.3 FM (San Francisco, USA)

Photos

Bio


One of the leaders of the current western heavy music revolution, Caveat released their debut album, "The Biggest Secret" (independent), in May 2004, to favourable reviews from the local music community. More than a year later, the group returned with a self-titled EP that has their fans banging their heads in approval. If "The Biggest Secret" was the sound of a band trying to find it niche, Caveat’s follow up EP is an unapologetic shout to forge ahead, devil horns to the sky. To understand the evolution of this unique band, one only has to look at the origins of Caveat.

Formed in Calgary, Alberta, in 2002 by Greg Musgrave (vocals/guitar) and bassist Terry Baldwin, Caveat enlisted percussionist Casey Rogers in late 2003. The trio recorded a full-length album, entitled "The Biggest Secret", in 2004 but soon realized their desire to broaden their sound with a second guitarist. This led to a brief hiatus from performing for Caveat, as ex-Thorazine shredder Joe Sikorski joined the fold and the band went to work on writing new material and refining their sound.

In 2005, the newly cemented line-up entered Calgary’s Sundae Sound Studios for a manic four-day recording session with local sound engineer Al Irving. The result is a professional, five-song EP, featuring 26 minutes of accessible, progressive metal that combines aggressive metal vocals with three-part harmonies, funk influenced bass lines and traditional thrash-metal guitar riffs. Besides showcasing three new tracks, the EP also includes re-recorded versions of “Immortalized” and “State of Grace” from 2004’s "The Biggest Secret" with the intent of demonstrating the extent to which the band sound has improved since their earlier release.

With over 35 past performances in and around Western Canada, including twice opening for legendary Texas rock trio King’s X (Inside Out Music USA) at The Underground in Calgary, AB, Caveat has formed a rabid and loyal local following who are attracted to the band’s distinct multi-layered sound and intensely entertaining live show. While 2005 was a banner year for the group both creatively and commercially - Caveat has been featured in no less than eight print publications in the last five months, including The Calgary Sun, Beatroute Magazine and REK Magazine - they have no intention of slowing down in 2006. With upcoming performances already booked in and around Western Canada, Caveat continue performing, writing and gearing towards their upcoming full-length album, while promising to push forward an awakening of Canadian metal with their fresh and distinct sound.

For more information visit Caveat on MySpace at WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CAVEATSMUSIC