Explosions in the Sky

Though they’ve been labeled post-rock, the only thing Explosions in the Sky has in common with rock music is the use of guitars and drums. In a way, the Texas band has more in common with classical music than rock music as it employs slowly building crescendos, expressive dynamic shifts and thematic peaks and valleys to create expansive and emotional music. The music is also almost entirely absent of lyrical content. Despite the unorthodox approach, they’ve been active since the early 2000s, and the band’s music has appeared in everything from television shows and movies to podcasts and video games. On previous albums, the band uses long songs to create huge build-ups and cathartic releases. Last year’s album, The Wilderness, experiments with shorter songs and electronic influences, but the spirit and aim of the music still remains the same. (Johnny Cook)