Same notes; new songs

With a name like ‘Explosions in the Sky’ you might assume that more bombastic and concussive beats and less restraint, maybe something you can run or lift weights to. This is not that band and they seem to know it. Explosions in the Sky has the ability to shift into heart racing and upbeat music but they never lose themselves. It takes an acute sense of self-awareness to do that, to know who you are and to preform or create with in your wheel house.

The problem with that is that if you go to far the other way. You can never grow and simply remix you previous efforts into something that is technically new but doesn’t really evolve.

“Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever” is in the second camp, unfortunately. If I remixed “How Strange, Innocence” and this album, swapping tracks around I don’t think it would really make a difference. Their second album is marginally more brash, filled with a more energetic bass and faster drums but doesn’t really do anything to set itself apart from their previous album aside from dialogue from the Thin Red Line as the lead in for the 4th track “Have You Passed Through This Night”.

The standout track for this Album is “With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls We Sleep”. A full 12-minute musical lecture that excites and moves you through a sonic landscape that features the only novel piece of guitar war towards the back 3rd of the song.

Do not confuse my unenthusiastic view of this album for a condemnation. No this is a good album but unremarkable in terms of Explosions in the Sky’s development as a band.