Customer Reviews

S/T

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is instrumental post-rock, which means long songs that take a while to develop and no attention-grabbing choruses. Some would probably find it boring, but I enjoy it quite a bit. I often like to read while listening to music, and some bands work better for this than others. This Will Destroy You's self-titled first full length album is great for it. Nearly every track is a slow burn, either building a melody to a chilling, hard crescendo or just letting it linger for several minutes. The band knows how to play their instruments, and there is great artistry and subtle beauty in the textures they weave. There has to be something that lets them hold a tune so simple for so long without boring me.

Besides the normal rock standards of guitar, drum, and bass, they also include some simple electronic elements in a few of the songs. Not much, maybe just a drum loop or something to add a little twist to the sound. I'm not too well versed in post-rock, but they've been compared favorably to elements of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, two bands I know to be favorites of the genre. It's not exactly something to throw on at parties, but as a personal experience, it can be quite interesting. I won't point out favorite tracks, because they're all pretty consistent and entertaining. The real difference is whether they build to an epic climax or not, and I enjoy it when they do.

This Will Destroy You's debut EP "Young Mountain," while it was good, didn't quite send shivers up my spine like a lot of other post-rock bands tend to do. Their songs dragged on a little too much and while it was pretty, it wasn't anything TOO special.

So here comes their full-length self-titled album. This album, in my opinion, is miles ahead of Young Mountain. The build-ups are fantastic, the guitar work is fantastic with beautiful harmonies throughout and the climaxes are executed beautifully.

The opening track "A Three-Legged Workhorse" has many different colours throughout. The track opens with quiet guitar and light glitch drums...very nice, indeed. The acoustic drums kick in and everything goes uphill from there until a beautiful electronica-aided climax erupts. The rest of the song is really an ambient trip with soft guitars and hypnotizing drums. Fantastic.

Villa Del Rufigo is a very soothing, soft, percussion-less and ultimately beautiful track.

Threads has a pretty basic post-rock structure. It is a very beautiful song, though, that's for sure. The song doesn't stop for anything. It's a march forward until it's had enough and leaves you nearly breathless.

Leather Wings is a short little track...I'd almost call it an interlude. With reverbing guitars, a simple snare beat, and ambient sounds all over, it's truly a hauntingly beautiful little interlude.

Ahh, yes. The Mighty Rio Grande. At 11:18, this track stands high with another track that I haven't gotten to yet. There's a steady 4.5 minute crescendo until it finally fades into almost nothing again, just like it started. It then crescendos AGAIN into yet another beautifully full sound with extremely rich texture.

Clocking in at around 7:00, They Move on Tracks of Never-Ending Light is an extremely catchy and nostalgic song...something about it makes your mind wander to so many different things. The whole thing is essentially quiet, with glitch drums yet again...A very nice song.

Which brings us to the amazing conclusion that is "Burial on the Presido Banks." I would like to personally congratulate This Will Destroy You on creating one of the most addicting, beautiful, goreous, and powerful songs I've ever heard. The build-up is done perfectly with truly fantastic chord progression until it drops down yet again and builds up rather quickly, eventually turning into something absolutely beautiful...This is definitely my favourite track on the album. Distortion, reverbing guitars, and crashing cymbals are all used here and together they create something truly special. The first time I heard this track, I was totally blown away.

So, yes, I do believe this album deserves a 5/5. It's a very well-deserved 5/5. Congrats, TWDY. I'm looking forward to hearing more. Buy this.

I bought "young mountain" from TWDY last year and it blew me away. If you are into Explosions in the Sky, Mono, or any Post-Rock Instrumentals you will need to add this to your collection. I think that this album is on the same caliber as "young mountain." Also there are longer tracks on here, more build-ups, and several surprises. If you're like me and LOVE post-rock bands, buy it now.

This is fairly slow even in the post rock genre and i have purchased their EP as well and i admit that their EP is superior to this after a few listens. Its not bad but i was expecting more. To those new or newer to the Post Metal/Rock scene i suggest Red Sparowes or Rosetta who are superior IMO.

Many post-rock aficionados attempt to confine the genre by creating over-specified criteria and remaining staunch in opinion - however, there are no defining attributes to "the perfect post-rock band". Some artists are atmospheric and focus on noise and ambience, while others are more in-your-face and focus on hard rock. Some are minimalistic while others are busy and technical. There is no right or wrong - it's all subject to personal opinion.

That being said, This Will Destroy You's self-titled album encompasses all attributes. Every track, aside from "Villa del Refugio" (which is pure background ambience), has moments of simple, quiet ambience that slowly swell into themes both monumental and triumphant.

I completely disagree with one particular reviewer: if you are warming up to the post-rock genre, This Will Destroy You is the very first album you should purchase - their Young Mountain EP being the second. Neither album requires an "acquired taste". Both albums are welcoming to new listeners, and will stay in your car's cd player for weeks before the thought of changing the disk enters your mind.

people want to complain about Young Mountain being a rip off of Explosions In the Sky or Mogwai all they want, but this release definitely sets them apart. The quiet moments here contain as much emotion as the crescendos, and in my opinion they blow explosions away in the emotive post-rock category (because EITS same after a while).

If you really like EITS and are looking for something more like it, i wouldn't recommend this outright. I'd compare it more to Mono's You Are There, but slightly more soft spoken. Like many bands, this is a band that is much much more powerful when seen live, but not to say their studio work doesn't do it justice.

So if you're looking for something for the impatient (or ADD), i wouldn't recommend anything remotely like this. This demands to be savored and sat with, to be reflected on and actually appreciated. if you're looking for something a bit faster and harder, I'd tell you to get Russian Circles enter (although that has some slow bits too), or Samus Octology by Irepress. For those looking for something with a slow build up, crescendos that will come close to actually destroying you, and straight beauty with power, check this out.

If you liked their first album run right out and buy this now. It is Deep and Inspiring and BEAUTIFUL!!! I can't believe everyone else has only given it 4 stars. This album has power and intensity with an added dose of peace and introspection that you only dream of other post rock bands achieving all in one package. Imagine the gentleness and beauty of Sigur Ros meeting the intensity and power of Mono with a magical middle ground and slow build that most post rock bands never seem to be able to find.

I LOVE THIS BAND! And I think you will too.

This is my first purchase from the band, but I really enjoyed it. The first song reaches some really strong and loud moments that make you start wondering what's to follow. Well, it seems to me that the rest of the album is trying it's best to slow you back down and settle in for a warm peaceful ride into your imagination. Although they use the soft/loud approach, the peaks and lows are not as pronounced as one might find with Mogwai and GYBE. Due to the fact that the lows and highs aren't incredibly far apart it allows you to set one volume and enjoy the entire album.

Although my first comparison would be to Explosions in the Sky, I also heard some (very few) moments of Massive Attack in their ambient beats.

The music on this CD is emotionally moving. Great music for sitting in a recliner and relaxing. It's very reminiscient of Sigur Ros and Explosions In The Sky. If you enjoy these artists I highly suggest that you check out "This Will Destroy You".

Fabulous album, as another reviewer pointed out, might seem slow-ish at first, but upon catching your attention it can seriously lift you up from your chair and farther above; The Mighty Rio Grande, similarly to Young mountain's The World Is Our______, intensifies into a mighty, powerful explosion, much like a cosmic, female orgasm :) i noticed yesterday that they start using TWDY's tracks in the movie industry - i guess some of their tracks can make a hell of a soundtrack; the trailer I saw was called the queen and promises to be a splendid documentary on camel beauty pageants in UAE (yeah, sounds weird, but the shots used in the trailer look terriffic accompanied by TWDY's glorious tracks).