End is the eighth studio album by American post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, released on September 15, 2023 through Temporary Residence Limited.
| End | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 15, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Post-rock[1] | |||
| Length | 45:26 | |||
| Label | Temporary Residence Limited | |||
| Producer |
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| Explosions in the Sky chronology | ||||
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| Singles from End | ||||
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Background and promotion
editThe album was announced alongside the release of lead single "Ten Billion People".[3] The band toured in North America, Europe and the UK in support of the record from September 15 to November 20, 2023.[4]
In a press release accompanying the announcement, the band stated that End was not the band's final album but that the album's "starting point was the concept of an ending—death, or the end of a friendship or relationship".[5]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 73/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [7] |
| Exclaim! | 7/10[8] |
| Mojo | [9] |
| Uncut | 8/10[10] |
End received a score of 73 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on ten critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[6] Mojo called it "a 'rumination on life and death', which suitably chimed with earth's current 'end times' vibe, from sorrow to rage, elevated by post-rock's most luminescent guitars."[9] Uncut found that "the music is varied, best expressed by 'Peace or Quiet', which stretches their loud-quiet dynamic as far as it can go".[10] Paul Simpson of AllMusic felt that End "incorporates a lot of the touches and techniques that made The Wilderness stand out in the group's discography, from rippling electronics to post-minimalist repetition".[7] Bruno Coulombe of Exclaim! stated that the album "feels like a return to form" and "contrary to The Wilderness, there are no formless ambient numbers to quell the energy between the more consistent, epic compositions".[8]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ten Billion People" | 6:29 |
| 2. | "Moving On" | 4:33 |
| 3. | "Loved Ones" | 6:10 |
| 4. | "Peace or Quiet" | 6:26 |
| 5. | "All Mountains" | 7:25 |
| 6. | "The Fight" | 6:20 |
| 7. | "It's Never Going to Stop" | 8:03 |
| Total length: | 45:26 | |
Personnel
editExplosions in the Sky
- Chris Hrasky – drums, production
- Michael James – guitar, production
- Munaf Rayani – guitar, production
- Mark T. Smith – guitar, production
Additional contributors
- John Congleton – production, mixing, engineering
- Ben Dickey – design
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Diego Mendoza – engineering assistance
- Gerardo "Jerry" Ordóñez – engineering assistance
- Pat Perry – artwork
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] | 197 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 40 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[13] | 44 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] | 24 |
References
edit- ^ Curtiss, Ryan (September 14, 2023). "Album Review: Explosions in the Sky – End". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ Kress, Bryan (August 21, 2023). "Explosions in the Sky Share "Moving On," the Deceptively Non-Final Single from End: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Geraghty, Hollie (July 26, 2023). "Explosions in the Sky announce first album in seven years and world tour dates". NME. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Explosions in the Sky Announce New Album, End". Spin. July 17, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Hussey, Allison (July 17, 2023). "Explosions in the Sky Announce Album, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "End by Explosions in the Sky Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Explosions in the Sky – End Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Coulombe, Bruno (September 13, 2023). "Explosions in the Sky Hint at a New Beginning with End". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "Explosions in the Sky – End". Mojo. October 2023. p. 88.
- ^ a b "Explosions in the Sky – End". Uncut. October 2023. p. 28.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Explosions in the Sky – End" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 23, 2023.