You might know them because of their weird, experimental sound and mystical lyrics. If you don’t, you probably should. On their sixth studio album, The Century of Self, art rockers …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead cast off their major-label ties to deliver an extremely satisfying aural experience.
Hailing from Austin, Texas, …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead have been performing and recording for over a decade. After a stint with Interscope, Trail of Dead decided to release their new album independently; from the sound of it, they are reaping the benefits of jumping the major-label ship. The album is a rush of sound built from cascading guitars, heavy percussion, ample amounts of both dissonance and distortion and a healthy dose of feedback. Layered, arching songs show the band’s musical expertise and willingness to experiment. The Century of Self could be a “Lord of the Rings” soundtrack on steroids.
The album opens with the cacophonous and creepy “Giants Causeway,” a natural Irish rock formation well-known as the backdrop of Led Zeppelin’s album cover for Houses of the Holy. The album’s first few songs are similarly dissonant. Rousing, punk-inspired choruses on tracks like “Far Pavilions” and “Isis Unveiled” recall sailor chants. According to their website, Trail of Dead draws inspiration from monophonic Gregorian chant, also citing Pythagoras and Martin Luther as influences. Century mellows out with the more melodious, rolling “Halcyon Days.” Trail of Dead showcases their eerie, ethereal rock on “Bells of Creation.” It is difficult to determine whether they are as haunted as they seem or if their unearthly sound is just an experiment, an attempt to transport listeners to another musical realm.
A few tracks are murky and bogged down by sound, but lively choruses and frequent interludes prevent the album from becoming too intense. Slower tracks such as “Luna Park” and “Insatiable, Pt. 1” lack excitement but provide listeners with a break. Fortunately, Trail of Dead picks up the pace again towards the end of the album with “Ascending.” However, Century is perhaps more accessible when viewed as a whole, as it is often difficult to distinguish the beginning of one song from the end of another.
Trail of Dead is clearly a band whose sound, vibe and aesthetic would only increase in a live performance setting. The improvisation and imperfections of a live performance go beyond the possibilities of a recording, but this band delivers an album that’s about as close it gets. Trail of Dead may seem like they want to scare listeners away, but after a few spins, it’s not hard to see why this band has developed a following. The Century of Self should leave nothing but satisfied listeners in its wake.
4 stars out of 5.
