Details

Album Cover
Artist
Explosions in the Sky
Album
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Label
Temporary Residence
Released
August 27, 2001

Review

What would be the result if one were to combine the accessibility of Mogwai and the overall goodness of the climactic parts of Godspeed You Black Emperor? Texas quartet Explosions in the Sky come the closest to answering that question, with their debut album Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, that this reviewer has heard in a while. The songs are the perfect alternative for fans of Godspeed! at their best, but who get bored with the meandering crescendos and buildup. The longest song on the album, "With Tired Eyes ..." clocks in at 12:04; still lengthy, but half the length of the average Godspeed! suite. "The Moon is Down", with its haunting jangly guitar mantra at beginning and end and disconcertingly upbeat guitar phrases between, along with "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept", the most reminiscent of another band whose name I have used far too many times already in this review, and "Greet Death", a fantastic introduction to the album, are the standout tracks; but the album, in its entirety, is excellent. Any fan of bands in the vein of Godspeed would do well to give Explosions in the Sky a listen.

Rating
90/100
Reviewer
Noah Jackson
Published

Track List

  1. Greet Death
  2. Yasmin the Light
  3. The Moon is Down
  4. Have You Passed Through This Night?
  5. A Poor Man's Memory
  6. With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept