Godspeed You! Black Emperor - ‘NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD’ review
Godspeed You! Black Emperor by Yannick Grandmont
Earlier today 4 October, Godspeed You! Black Emperor returned with their eighth studio album NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD via Constellation Records, another offering to their vast discography of facing the darkness head on with a hallmark mastery of tension and release. For a band almost 30 years since their formation and has now been together longer post-hiatus than the original existence - GY!BE are showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. The one, prevalent idea with their music shines brighter than ever: forwards.
Distorted string drones open the album, not long before bold and beaming guitar phrases ring in, signalling an air of triumph. A multitude of various instruments chime in, seemingly all playing their own song and evoking a sense of connection through disconnection. The drums and percussion rattle, the string sections flicker in and out, whilst the guitars glow brightly. "SUN IS A HOLE SUN IS VAPORS" is a shimmering invitation to step into a new world.
"BABYS IN A THUNDERCLOUD" begins with distant distortions of thunder, and possibly explosions, all before a sorrowful guitar pattern emerges. A soft cymbal enters and drives us forward into this storm - accompanied by a pulsating bass line, creating the irresistible tension that Godspeed have mastered so well. The drums begin to enter a jazz-like swing as the rest of the song rises in true post-rock like fashion. That sorrowful feeling remains prevalent throughout the track whilst the instrumentation cascades in beautiful harmonies and phrases. The second act of the song swells into a climax of defiance, as strings and drums begin to march - we are in the storm, and the only way out is through. The closing minutes of the 13.37 minute long track are some of the most glorious on the album, and worthy of making this an instantly quintessential cut in the Godspeed discography.
"RAINDROPS CAST IN LEAD" feels like a track that may take you anywhere at any time, and it remains that way throughout. Whistles and tense string sections wash in and out in an almost meditative state. Soon, the relentless bombardment of instrumentation of the 13-minute long track begins and it pushes louder, faster, harder, relentlessly - All before evolving into near noise-rock territory, with guitars screaming and wailing between the distance and the foreground. Sonically, this may be the most expected track on the album, sounding not far from the territory that was explored on "Luciferian Towers" and "G_d's Pee".
The triumphant bombardment ends, and slowly rings out into a far-away distance. Soon after, broken and distorted string drones enter. "BROKEN SPIRES AT DEAD KAPITAL" is the shortest track on the album at 3:35, but that's more than enough time for it to build a deeply harrowing and mournful spell. Serving somewhat as an introduction to "PALE SPECTATOR TAKES PHOTOGRAPHS". Deep and sparse thuds of drums paired with a crackling, almost whimpering violin evoke unrelenting feelings of dread. The tension grows slowly as waves of instruments crash in and out, all before a relentless bass-line, driving drums and soul-shattering violin section take the song to a new heightened state of emergency, growing into a fire that cannot be contained.
The beaming guitars for the 2-part single "GREY RUBBLE - GREEN SHOOTS" emerge from the ash. A song certainly fit for the end times and to close the album, we're left with the feelings of flying over and looking down at a desolate wasteland, something that was once beautiful is now nothing more than grey rubble. At the halfway mark, the instrumentation strips down to allow for the second part of the song, sprawling out into feelings of lament and sorrow as gentle washes of lonely strings ring through. The closing minutes are arguably the most beautiful on the album as each lost instrument re-enters until they collectively end the album in unison.
Possibly the most honed iteration of their sound yet, NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD will take fans old and new on a crushing journey through darkness and light.
NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD from Godspeed You! Black Emperor is out now via Constellation Records and available on all good streaming platforms.
