The 10 Best Post Rock Bands » The Music Mag

The 10 Best Post Rock Bands

10/ This Will Destroy You

An American Instrumental band formed in 2005. This Will Destroy You has released an EP, Young Mountain, which was originally supposed to be the band’s demo. The EP has received favorable reviews and they then went on to release their self titled album.

9/ World’s End Girlfriend

His work blends elements of electronica and post-rock to create a unique style. The Collaboration they did with Mono called ‘Palmless Prayer/Mass Murder Refrain’ – quoted as possibly the great post rock album ever made – means they deserve to be on this list.

8/ Tortoise

Tortoise is an instrumental post-rock group hailing from Chicago. The group is comprised of six members, and the band started off their career in 1994 – possibly at, or near, the front of post rock. Their style of music, being dark, moody, and atmospheric, Tortoise combine various genres into their music such as funk, jazz, dub, electronica, and krautrock. In result you get something extremely jazzy and accessible, yet the music remains soft and mellow, somewhat ambient.

7/ Kayo Dot

‘Choirs of the Eye’ is easily one of the most evocative and genuinely experimental albums to come out in quite some time, and the small amount of buzz the band has generated recently is beyond inadequate. Soaringly melodic and undeniably evil in the way parents and religious groups could never understand, Choirs of the Eye is as moving as it is hideous and hedonistic.

6/65daysofstatic

Ahhh, an English post-rock band! From Sheffield, so even better! Formed in 2001, they have released three full-length albums, the latest of which was 2007’s ‘The Destruction of Small Ideas’. They recently toured with The Cure!

5/ Yndi Halda

Their name means “enjoy eternal bliss” in Icelandic, are a group of English folks who have been playing together for around four years, but have only recently released their first EP. Drawing heavily upon Post Rock giants that came before them, such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, et cetera, yndi halda create a unique hybrid that is their own sound, as well as incredibly impacting and emotional.

4/ Mogwai

Everything about them is based on their ability to build up a song from nothing but 2 or 3 notes, and by the end, make it feel like an orchestra and their families had joined in. Each song sets a story for the listener to piece together from what images the flowing riffs and beats conjure up. They don’t spoil it with a vocalist portraying their own ideas over the top, and that’s what gives them a definite edge.

3/ Explosions in the Sky

With the ability to entrance their listeners with simple melodies and instrumentation, Explosions in the Sky have become one of the most well known post rock bands to emerge from the genre. From subtle build-ups to epic crescendos, the band have carved their niche through albums such as “How Strange, Innocence” and “The Rescue”.

2/ Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Often praised as one of the greatest Post-Rock bands, Godspeed You Black Emperor formed in Montreal in 1994. The band began with three members, but usually has 8 or 9, and has contained as many as 15. The group’s unique and volatile sound is a mix of classical, avant-garde, and progressive, with most of their songs broken up into symphonic movements.

1/ Mono

A Japanese post-rock band. Their instrumentals focus on textures of layered guitar melodies along with various string arrangements and pianos.Their music has a very elegant vibe at times, to huge crashes and breakdowns. Their album with World’s End Girlfriend, as mentioned earlier, is possibly the best post-rock album of all time (it’s also very hard to get a copy of!). Their albums such as ‘Are You There’ are must listens.

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