Cavalcade’s Puns, Punches and Pigeons
Posted in Reviews on June 2nd, 2009 by JJ KoczanTrailing behind them a significant racket of riotous noise, Lansing, Michigan‘s Cavalcade crash their way through genre walls of avant-core incorporating elements of sludge, surf and grind to their first full-length, Into Bolivian. Vocalist/sampler Zak Warren bears an at times uncanny resemblance to Carcass‘ Jeff Walker circa Swansong (“You’ll Shoot Your Eye out Kid” reminds specifically of “Generation Hexed,” at least until the title-line section), and guitarist Cale Sauter adds saxophone and melodica atop spastic tracks like “Quiet Men Keep Secrets,” setting Cavalcade apart from nearly everyone. I won’t lie, there are parts of this record that are downright unpleasant, but since that’s so clearly what the band is going for, it’s not something you can hold against them.
Bassist/vocalist Craig Horky (also credited with “power tools” in the liner notes), apart from being the visual artist responsible for the stunning/disturbing cover painting, graces “Capsules of Holy Water” with a jazzy bop and clean tone, adding a progressive touch as well to the quirky “Riding Elephants into Cartilage.” In lockstep with drummer John Bruce, the Cavalcade rhythm section leads the way for Sauter and guitarist Brad Van Staveren to apply their King Crimson-type notes in multiple time signatures. Without them, “Seasonal/The (Matthew) Suite” would fall flat.