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Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will CD (album) cover

HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE, BUT YOU WILL

Mogwai

 

Post Rock/Math rock

3.83 | 147 ratings

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TCat
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
5 stars This has to be Mogwai's best output to date in my opinion. Even though I have enjoyed most every thing the band has done, this album is so full of drama, emotion and dynamic beauty that it out does everything else that the band has done so far, and that should be expected from a truly progressive band. While it is true that the album leans somewhat to the alternative side more than other albums, it still keeps it's post rock edge and merges the two sounds quite well. The album is more up beat than a lot of their albums with more fast tempo tracks than normal with a steady beat, hence the feeling of being more straightforward than in the past, but the heavy guitar is still there giving the fans the post rock sound they love and cementing the bands position as post rock leaders. There is very little reliance on the use of post rock formulas of soft-crescendo-climax and more of a rock-oriented feel. There is still the use of electronics as there has been in the most recent albums, but there is also more of a return to post-rock guitar sensibilities without resorting to the predictable formula. It's quite an amazing mix.

Most of the songs are surprisingly upbeat with a consistent tempo. There are a few beautiful slower tracks like "Letters to the Metro" and "Too Raging to Cheers" that are extraordinarily emotional and lovely tracks. It's also quite nice to hear the band not rely on so many mid-tempo tracks here too, but when they do, the sound is not as worn out by the time you get to the end of the album, in fact, you come to the end of the album and want more. By the way, if you get the Japanese version, you get 2 more excellent bonus tracks. There is also a special edition of the album that has a 2nd disc that contains the 23 minute epic track "Music for a Forgotten Future (The Singing Mountain)" which is well worth seeking.

Even with the alternative influence here, this is a very strong album. Some may not consider it progressive because of the more consistent tempos of the songs, but in my opinion, it still stays true to the progressive genre in that it very successfully merges the genres and stays true to the post-rock sound ending up with a better overall album in the end. Most people seem to consider "Happy Music for Happy People" their favorite album and the band's highlight, but, even though I love that album, this one is so much more dramatic and varied, with less reliance on the old predictable formulas. It also contains one of my favorite tracks, the very expressive and progressive piece "Too Raging to Cheers" which I cannot say enough about. What an amazing track...I only wish it was longer. I can't help but give this album less than 5 stars, because in my mind, it is a masterpiece and one that should be considered a high standard for any post-rock band to reach. It's up there with the great post-rock albums including "F#A (infinity)" by GY!BE and "Ágætis Byrjun" by Sigur Ros. 5 brilliant stars.

TCat | 5/5 |

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