Exploding Head
A Place to Bury Strangers · 2009
43 min · 10 tracks · noise rock
A swirling maelstrom of feedback and reverb, pushing the boundaries of noise rock with haunting melodies and relentless energy.
Top tracks — play these first
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In Your Heart — The track features soaring guitars layered over driving rhythms, creating a sense of urgency that encapsulates the emotional intensity inherent in the album.
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Ego Death — This song delves into themes of identity and loss, employing a dynamic shift between tranquil verses and explosive choruses that exemplify the band's sonic range.
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Everything Always Goes Wrong — The track's relentless energy and dark lyrical content highlight the band's ability to merge raw emotion with abrasive soundscapes, making it a memorable high point on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends innovative soundscapes with strong execution, creating a distinct noise rock experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a wall of sound, layering distorted guitars and heavy reverb that set a chaotic tone.
- Tracks frequently shift dynamics, with sudden drops to quieter sections before exploding back into noise.
- Several songs feature unconventional song structures, often eschewing traditional verse-chorus formats in favor of extended instrumental passages.
- The final track fades out slowly, leaving a lingering sense of disorientation that reflects the album's overall aesthetic.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- steady, consistent energy levels
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- haunting atmospheric soundscapes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Exploding Head is A Place to Bury Strangers' second studio album, released in January 2009, following their self-titled debut. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their presence within the noise rock scene, building on the acclaim from their first album and gaining traction in both underground and mainstream circles.
- Stylistic neighbors
- My Bloody Valentine· Sonic Youth· The Jesus and Mary Chain
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 It Is Nothing 3:08
- 2 In Your Heart 3:09
- 3 Lost Feeling 5:14
- 4 Deadbeat 3:32
- 5 Keep Slipping Away 4:35
- 6 Ego Death 5:43
- 7 Smile When You Smile 4:51
- 8 Everything Always Goes Wrong 3:40
- 9 Exploding Head 3:33
- 10 I Lived My Life to Stand in the Shadow of Your Heart 5:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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