Texas based four-piece Explosions in the Sky have been one of the most popular practitioners of the sub-genre post-rock for over the past decade. Their work for movies like "Friday Night Lights" and more recently "Lone Survivor" have put their brand of slow building, instrumental rock in the ears of many and their critically acclaimed discography have made them one of the most respected artist in the genre. The boys are back after a five year absence from making studio albums to give the music world their seventh full-length album, entitled "The Wilderness." This album contains the band's typical style of slower more thoughtful musical pieces that are meant to be enjoyed as an holistic experience. These are definitely not the normal three and a half minute long rock songs played on modern day radio. In fact, the album's slower, more plotting pace is what makes "The Wilderness" an impressive and at time engrossing record. That does not mean that there are no driving or energetic moments, but the album mainly sticks to a more ambient style, with each song's respective atmosphere carrying the impact. Tracks like "The Ecstatics," "Tangle Formations," Disintegration Anxiety," and "Losing the Light" show off the band's immense talent for pulling that style off. The guitars, drums, and the extra instrumental touches are arranged with much tact throughout the album, especially on the just previously mentioned songs. The driving drums, haunting piano, and what seems to be horns on the first portion of "Tangle Formations" is by far the album's strongest showing of the tactful arrangements that Explosions in the Sky are known for. The finely tremolo picked guitars and in the pocket drum work on "Disintegration Anxiety" create a nice groove that carries the track throughout. These moments and many more are what make "The Wilderness" such a solid album. That said, this album is not devoid of flaws, the over 2 minute long "Infinite Orbit" is a piece of album fluff that detracts from the other much more developed tracks. It really adds nothing to the album as a whole. The album at times does fail to engross at times, with some of the songs not being as impactful as they could have been. With that said, "The Wilderness" is definitely another strong effort by Explosions in the Sky that proves further their talent and expertise in the genre of post-rock. "The Wilderness" gets a rating of an strong 8.2/10.Favorite Songs: The Ecstatics, Tangle Formations, Disintegration Anxiety, Losing the LightLeast Favorite: Infinite Orbit

The Wilderness is Explosions in the Sky exploring electronica alongside their traditional set up and successfully developing a sound which had become somewhat stale last time out on Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. I've played this record out on headphones, driving at dawn, and at night, mostly very loud and it fulfills the EITS brief in that it's simultaneously intimate, wordless, at times melodically transcendent and as much ecstatic as wistful. Like all great instrumental music it takes you somewhere unique on every listen.Tracks like Tangle Formations and Landing Cliffs go immediately on to my best of EITS mix. The songs soar where they might have once roared, the music remains unpretentious, and the production is lovely.I sense that EITS have probably reflected on Mogwai's continued development as a band and seen that expanding their palette is the way to stay relevant, to grow and build. Their interim soundtrack work again mirrors Mogwai's trajectory, you can tell on listening that these musicians are committed to the body of work they are building over any regretful commercial aspirations. Another reason to love them.I adore EITS for their sense of hope, their music is built for communal joy as much as the intimacy of listening alone, and they remain committed to creating magical moments of melody and interplay. I suspect that this record will be seen as a bridge and their next full length will be an absolute classic, and I'll certainly continue to follow their journey.

Beautifully moody and atmospheric, more a aural experience than an album. Its more about feeling than listening in the way you would do with a conventional album. A powerful journey of chords and notes, strung together to elicit mental images and transcendence. A wonderful listen through and through