After a lengthy hiatus, Godspeed You! Black Emperor returned in 2015 with "Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress," a powerful testament to their enduring influence in the post-rock and drone genres. This fifth studio album, released on Constellation, marks their first collection of truly new material since reforming, and it does so with a concise and effortless elegance that showcases the band's strengths without retreading familiar ground.
The album, which clocks in at just over 40 minutes, is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling. It opens with the sprawling "Peasantry or 'Light! Inside of Light!'" and closes with the haunting "Piss Crowns Are Trebled," with "Lambs' Breath" and the title track "Asunder, Sweet" in between. Each song is a journey in itself, filled with the band's signature use of dynamic shifts, intricate instrumentation, and evocative soundscapes.
"Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress" is not just an album; it's an experience. Godspeed You! Black Emperor's music has always been about more than just the notes on the page. It's about the spaces between, the silences, and the stories they tell. This album is a revolutionary marching band, ringing in the fall of old regimes with their whole heart on broken instruments. It's a call to arms, a call to action, and a call to listen deeply.
Vinylscout