Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!

Godspeed have been behind some of my favourite moments in music, period, especially with their 2000 masterpiece, Lift Your Skinny Fists. From what I understand, this was somewhat of a comeback record for them, and man oh man, I can’t imagine what the reaction would’ve been when it dropped. On here you’ll find two monstrous post rock tracks - pummelling and winding and screeching - as well as two steady drone pieces that break up the run time. Godspeed aren’t doing anything new on here, but as usual, conjure up some incredibly bleak and harrowing imagery with this album. I would call it post-apocalyptic if it didn’t sound like you were right in the middle of it when you’re listening.

Truly an album of our times and most likely many more times to come, this is some powerful, dark and deeply visceral work from the post rock kings - one that shouldn’t be left in the shadow of their masterpieces that came before it.

KEY TRACK: We Drift Like Worried Fire - too few tracks to name multiple, but this song’s soaring strings and steadily building tension as it treads along is one of my all time favourite Godspeed moments.