Post-rock is a genre that has been picking up steam for some time now, a genre in which the norm is almost always ignored. Often, bands find a way to sound different from others in the same genre in order to appeal, and this band does just that.

Explosions In The Sky is a decidedly unknown band out of Austin, Texas who play some of the most amazingly composed instrumental rock ever heard. Their debut Album “those who tell the truth shall die, those who tell the truth shall live forever”, released in 2000, is not only one of the longest titles I’ve seen, it’s also one of the best records I’ve heard.

Right from the beginning you know you’re in for a trip. Hell, even the name of the band can stir up some awesome images, take a look inside the liner notes and you’ll find stylish artwork and a few words, what it does is set the tone of the record. Cold, yet full of hope.

There are a total of six tracks adding up to a pretty large 49 minutes and 51 seconds.

“Greet death” The first song on the disc absolutely forces you to take notice, it starts quietly with a few tones and then about a minute in listeners are bombarded by a symphony of heavy and hard sounding guitars and pounding drums, creating an absolute rush of power and intensity that few bands can stir up. Following the general “blue print” of the genre, the song then slows down and we are treated to very deliberate instrumentals that stir up all kinds of emotions.

The mark of a truly great band, I fell, is the ability to change how listeners feel, and Explosions in the sky does it not only without the use of the common uses in music today, but with calculated ease.

Tracks such as “Yasmin the light” and “the moon is down” feature some of the most amazing use of guitar I’ve heard. I don’t quite know how it is accomplished, but the band achieves a very “layered” sound while remaining almost simple sounding. It has to be heard to be believed at times.

Every song loaded into this album sounds different enough from the one before it to allow you to stay absolutely hooked, yet they all seem to follow a scheme, that is, They often feature an intense and emotional buildup, picking up speed and adding new sounds, and then slow right down. No huge bang, no poppy catchy chorus, just absolute genius at work.

A word of warning, maybe, is that it is not uncommon for some songs to run over 8-10 minutes, those with short attentions spans might find it boring, but anyone looking for a fresh, unique and absolutely amazing listening experience need to find this disc.

Overall 10/10

Track list: