End, the enigmatic seventh album by Explosions in the Sky, was inspired by darkness, but became a loud, dramatic, wild rumination on life and death.
Explosions in the Sky's second effort takes a more studied, even lush approach to the literate chaos of their 2001 debut. But put on your sad sack thinking cap now, because Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place is a contemplative and heady rush of masterful melancholia. Its six songs are multi-minute, slow motion workouts of gentle electric guitar plucks and subtle/sudden washes of percussion - they're still instrumental, but as lyrical as anything in the indie rock universe. "Only Moment We Were Alone" turns on a simple, melancholy guitar figure, the drums shifting from insistent catch-up mode to a studied march built to introduce the next layered crescendo…
Hailing from Chicago, Rocket Miner has been creating their blend of post-rock. Combining elements of shoegaze, heavy riffs, classical themes and other varying elements into their sweeping instrumentals. Formed in 2010, Rocket Miner has been receiving praise for their songs and live shows from day one. Rocket Miner's sound has been compared to Post-Rock stalwarts Explosions in the Sky and Russian Circles. They have also shared the stage with many fantastic bands like Junius, You.May.Die.In.The.Desert, and The Life and Times. Recommended if you like: Explosions in the Sky, Russian Circles, This Will Destroy You.