|
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - The Century Of Self
1. "The Giants Causeway"† - 2:38
2. "The Far Pavilions" - 4:54
3. "Isis Unveiled" - 6:27
4. "Halcyon Days" - 6:36
5. "Bells of Creation" - 5:23
6. "Fields of Coal" - 3:42
7. "Inland Sea" - 4:08
8. "Luna Park" - 4:22
9. "Pictures of an Only Child"‡ - 4:43
10. "Insatiable (One)"‡ - 2:02
11. "Ascending" - 4:47
12. "An August Theme" - 0:50
13. "Insatiable (Two)" - 3:03
Plenty of bands like to declare how their latest album is a “return to their roots”. But in the case of ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, a return to old form could only be a good thing. The bands 2002 album 'Source Tags & Codes', sparked a music-critic bukakke like orgasm fest, after that brilliant opener, how could their two follow up records possibly keep the momentum going?
Well, two not so great albums later and now free of their label the latest release - ‘The Century of Self' is a wonderfully epic masterpiece. A work of tremendous scope and ambition. While the term 'proggy' is way overused, in this case Trail of Dead has managed that rare feat – a proggy album that isn't academic or painful.
The imagery conjured up when seeing the bands name is (maybe deliberately) misleading, and you’d be forgiven for writing them off as post hardcore or screamo but what you expect is certainly not what you get. If Coldplay killed Chris Martin, had balls and jammed with Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth then this is the sort of music they might come up with.
15 years into their career, Trail of Dead continues to innovate and grow. At a point where many other bands would be resting on their laurels and half-heartedly tossing off greatest hits compilations, Trail of Dead are just getting started.
Reviewed by Pete Theobalds
“The Century Of Self” Is out now on Justice Records |