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ForumsMusic Discussion and Showcase → Godspeed You Black Emperor
Godspeed You Black Emperor
2004-11-30, 1:03 PM #1
It seems a lot of Massassians are into this band... as for myself, I can't get enough of them. I have their CDs "F#A#oo" and "Slow Riot for the New Zero Kanada EP", and I plan on buying "Lift Your Skinny Fists..." CD soon.

It's very had to describe the music this band plays... some call it neo-classical, post-rock, experimental rock. They call their music the "soundtrack to the apocalypse", and I can't find a better definition. The band detonates huge soundscapes with multiple cresecendos and climaxes, with the use of 3 guitars, 2 basses, 2 drummers, and a cello and violin. A typical GYBE song lasts around 20 minutes, each building up until the final, breath-taking climax. The music itself has no vocals, but is more emotional than much music I hear.

A typical song might start with some weeping strings that set the morbid and depressing tone, then a guitar might follow up. Eventually, everything starts to come together, and then the drums come in. Things start to get louder and louder... like the end of the world is nigh. Things start to get out of control, almost like a chaotic orchestra playing music to the world's death. Then finally, the music explodes into the final climax that leaves everyone breathless. Often times, they'll add voice samples of street preachers yelling to passerbys of the end of the world, and other various creepy recordings. To make the band even more mysterious, they rarely do interviews, and never really tell the members names of the band (they say it's the music they create that matters, not the players).

It's (definitely) not for everybody, but if it interests you, I suggest picking up Slow Riot for the New Zero Kanada EP. It's a great band that needs to be heard to be understood. Also, I think they helped score the movie "28 Days Later", which was that apocalyptic horror movie.
"I'm afraid of OC'ing my video card. You never know when Ogre Calling can go terribly wrong."
2004-11-30, 1:05 PM #2
From all the descriptions I've heard, they're probably not my thing. They might be okay for some situations.
Are they similar to Black Dice?
It's not the side effects of cocaine, so then I'm thinking that it must be love
2004-11-30, 1:23 PM #3
From your descripion, it sounds like Dimmu meets Apocalyptica.. Definitely will check it out.
2004-11-30, 2:09 PM #4
I love me some Godspeed.

Free mp3s are available here.:)
2004-11-30, 2:23 PM #5
Quote:
Originally posted by Whelly
Also, I think they helped score the movie "28 Days Later", which was that apocalyptic horror movie.


G.Y.B.E! contributed East Hastings, which is the track that plays in the movie when Jim is walking around in deserted London at the start.

I wouldn't say that they have much to do with Dimmu Borgir. They really don't have anything to do with Black Metal at all, the sound is totally different. Not like Apocalyptica either in that they don't confine themselves to the staples of the genre like the typical drumming.

The sound is very orchestral, layered and vast, built on repetition of musical patterns slowly evolving throughout the length of a track towards a crescendo, then waning off and eventually picking up again.

They come off as [url=http://www.brainwashed.com/godspeed/oor.html [/url] stuck up [/url] (Obligatory language warning for an album title) and pretentious , they can be longwinded, their political agenda verges on the hamfisted and occasionally tiresome (eeevil corporations, eeeeevil American militarism, eeeevil soul-sucking vapid modern life, etc.), they come off as the type of people that'd hate you for owning a credit card or having a bank account, and they take themselves veeery seriously, but they're interesting because they're very unique and so very much a product of the times. A refreshing antiagent to contemporary commercial music.
If it breaks, you get to keep both pieces.
2004-11-30, 4:43 PM #6
There is a side project of four or so of the members called Silver Mt. Zion. Some of their stuff is as good, if not better than Godspeed's stuff. I havn't listened to any of their other side projects.

I think Yanqui UXO and the Slow Riot EP are Godspeed's best releases. I don't like Lift Your Skinny Fists(...) as much as their other recordings, though.
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