Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers (LP)

Godspeed You! Black Emperor's "Luciferian Towers," released on September 22, 2017, via Constellation Records, is a masterclass in atmospheric post-rock and drone music. This sixth studio album from the Canadian collective is a powerful and melodic journey, showcasing the band's signature sound with a renewed sense of positivity and compositional finesse. Recorded in the winter of 2016/17 at Hotel2Tango in Montreal and mastered at Greymarket, the album's eight tracks are a testament to the band's meticulous craftsmanship.

The album opens with "Undoing a Luciferian Towers," setting the stage for the epic, multi-part suites that follow. "Bosses Hang" is a sprawling, three-part exploration of texture and dynamics, while "Anthem for No State" is a similarly ambitious work, divided into three distinct movements. Each piece on "Luciferian Towers" is a study in contrast, blending moments of intense, cathartic energy with passages of delicate, introspective beauty. The band's use of strings, horns, and found sounds creates a rich, immersive sonic landscape that is as thought-provoking as it is sonically rewarding.

With a running time of just over 43 minutes, "Luciferian Towers" is a concise yet impactful statement from one of post-rock's most influential bands. The album's themes of resistance, resilience, and hope are woven into its very fabric, making it a powerful and timely release. Fans of Godspeed You! Black Emperor's previous work, as well as those new to the band, will find much to appreciate in this exceptional album.