Explosions In The Sky Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die CD

Recording information: 12/2000.
The members of Explosions in the Sky may just be four soft-spoken guys from Texas, but on Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever they simply tear everything apart. Combining influences from classic rock to metal to goth, the band creates instrumental soundscapes that can turn from all-out destruction to heartfelt, dreamy melodies in the blink of an eye. The result is similar to Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor! -- a musical journey that leads listeners through the entire range of emotion without even needing words. "Greet Death" matches a crunchy Dinosaur Jr. hook with warm Cure-esque bass grooves. "Moon Down" chimes and twists through ten minutes of calm night, leaving the listener with the feeling that something awesome is sure to happen. On "Have You Passed Through This Night?" a film-dialogue sample ponders in a near-whispering Texas drawl the meaning of the world. What follows is like the climax of a tense, mind-blowing movie, driven by relentless guitars and a thundering Master of Puppets-era Metallica drum march. "Poor Man's Memory" follows, offering some consolation in a sentimental melody. The album ends with the grand, 12-minute-long "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept," a song that moves from Sonic Youth to Joy Division to Explosions in the Sky. Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever is nothing short of awe-inspiring and one of the best records of 2001. ~ Charles Spano
Explosions in the Sky's 2001 release offers a plethora of musical colors and fascinating detours. All six lengthy tracks are centered on moody guitar, bass, and drum textures. The result is a mix of subtle, organic tones and raucous, sometimes heavily amplified effects.
Overall, the music on THOSE WHO TELL THE TRUTH SHALL DIE, THOSE WHO TELL THE TRUTH SHALL LIVE FOREVER is as complex, long-winded, and obtuse as the title itself. However, the sonic landscape created by this eclectic quartet is also warm and inviting. The simple catch phrase for this style of music is emo-rock, which is an abbreviation for emotional rock. Like this style implies, these compositions are expressive and intense. Whether it is the screaming guitars of "Greet Death" or the brooding "The Moon is Down," this CD writhes with great musical transparency. The finest selection on this release may be the last track, "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept." On this piece, the band uses a cornucopia of dense guitar sounds, a relentless military drum cadence, and dark chords that loop ominously.