What makes End by Explosions in the Sky notable?

The album has been met with positive critical reception, highlighting its ability to evoke deep emotions through instrumental storytelling. It showcases the band's continued relevance in the post-rock genre and is anticipated to impact playlists across various platforms, further solidifying their influence on newer bands within the scene. End marks Explosions in the Sky's first release since 2016's The Wilderness, positioning them at a moment of resurgence after a period of relative silence. With this album, they return to their roots in post-rock while exploring new sonic territories, showcasing their evolution as artists over nearly two decades.

End works well if you're into cathartic journeys through sound, steady mid-tempo progression and intimate moments of reflection.

How many songs are on End?

End has 7 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

End

Explosions in the Sky · 2023

45 min · 7 tracks · post-rock

Expansive soundscapes meld with intricate melodies, creating a reflective journey through emotional highs and lows.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Ten Billion People — This opening track sets the album's tone with grand, sweeping instrumentation that captures both solitude and connection in its expansive sound.
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Loved Ones — With its poignant build-up and climactic release, this track encapsulates the band's signature style while exploring themes of memory and longing.
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It’s Never Going to Stop — This extended piece weaves complex layers of sound that evolve over time, reflecting the persistent nature of emotional struggle and resilience.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

67 /100

Alpine

Higher than 91% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate melodies and expansive soundscapes, creating an immersive listening experience.

What we noticed

The album features long, evolving tracks that build gradually, often starting with soft instrumentation before reaching climactic peaks.
Each track employs a layered arrangement, with guitars and strings intertwining to create rich textures that evoke a sense of space.
The final track ends on a sustained note that fades out slowly, leaving an impression of unresolved tension.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

cathartic journeys through sound
steady mid-tempo progression
intimate moments of reflection
expansive soundscapes to explore

Maybe skip if you

prefer quick, upbeat tracks
look for standalone singles

Where this album fits

Career context: End marks Explosions in the Sky's first release since 2016's The Wilderness, positioning them at a moment of resurgence after a period of relative silence. With this album, they return to their roots in post-rock while exploring new sonic territories, showcasing their evolution as artists over nearly two decades.
Stylistic neighbors: Godspeed You! Black Emperor· Sigur Rós· Mono

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Ten Billion People 6:29
2 Moving On 4:34
3 Loved Ones 6:11
4 Peace or Quiet 6:27
5 All Mountains 7:26
6 The Fight 6:20
7 It’s Never Going to Stop 8:04

What to play next

Go back to

The Wilderness

2016

Full Explosions in the Sky discography Artists like Explosions in the Sky

post-rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata