Controlled recessing of materials in cavities and resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a dielectric layer over first-type and second-type transistor regions, and long and short channel-cavities in the dielectric in each transistor region; conformally forming a gate dielectric layer in the long and short channel-cavities, and on an upper surface of the dielectric; conformally forming a first-type work-function metal layer on the gate dielectric; forming a block-mask over the first-type transistor region; removing the first-type work-function metal from the second-type transistor region; removing the block-mask; conformally forming a second-type work-function metal on all exposed surfaces; forming a metal barrier layer on exposed surfaces and filling the short channel-cavities; filling the long channel-cavities with a conductive material; planarizing all layers down to the upper surface of the dielectric; and applying a tilted ion beam to recess the gate dielectric, first and second type work-function metal, and metal barrier layers.