THE EARTH IS NOT A COLD DEAD PLACE

It's what you think of when the term ''post rock'' enters the discussion. THE EARTH IS NOT A COLD DEAD PLACE is cluttered with guitar textures that have more to do with atmosphere and mood than the traditional use of guitar (riffing and soloing). The drumming is very orchestral and focused that can go absent and enhance the mood in ways you never could expect.

The whole sound has very much indie rock credibility as that's what the guitar sounds remind me of. So, all bets are off hoping for anything bombastic in the traditional prog sense; we're completely absent of vocals and keyboards here, and bass lines are very hard to find. The guitar lines can paint beautiful mental pictures if you really sit back and let the music flow over you.

The real problem with this album is that every track holds the same musical value. By the time we reach ''Memorial'', Explosions in the Sky add nothing new to what has already been said in the astounding opening one-two punch (''First Breath After Coma'' and ''The Only Moment We're Alone''). In a sense, EitS becomes a one-trick pony and you can predict the guitar lines by the end of the album. A great start that unfortunately deflates into mediocrity.