...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead

No longer new kids on the indie block, and also no longer under the thumb of Interscope, Trail of Dead reportedly used their newfound freedom to record this, album number 6, without the dreaded "click-track," instead relying on the ancient and almost unthinkable (today) practice of "live to tape." Even during their major label years this band didn't waste anyone's time with weak music, so it should come as no surprise that The Century of Self boils with the trademark high energy they made their name with. "Isis Unveiled" will be the first one to sneak its way into your subconscious.

Once a buzz band and now a major-label castoff, Austin's Trail of Dead have spent years
trying out various combinations of sober art rock and ballsy loudness. Their indie-released
sixth album skews dark and noisy, piling up ragged shouts and messy guitars, plus the
occasional choral section and other grand gestures. Sometimes the combination is bracing:
The upbeat "Fields of Coal" could make for a fine drunken singalong. But cuts lik... More >