Hardcore-Prog Band Strips Down for New LP

The seventh LP from And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, titled 'Tao of the Dead,' presents a dual concept exploring Joseph Campbell's mythology and the decline of rock radio. This release is divided into two suites, with a limited edition offering additional music and a graphic novel.

For the recording sessions, the band reduced its lineup to a four-piece, shifting focus back to guitar and minimizing orchestral flourishes. This approach results in shorter song runtimes, with most tracks averaging half the length of previous albums. The album emphasizes seamless transitions between songs, creating a disorienting yet cohesive listening experience.

Opener 'Let's Experiment' leads into 'Pure Radio Cosplay,' a track lamenting rock radio's decline, paradoxically featuring the band's most radio-ready sound in years. Conrad Keely's vocals are more subdued, allowing the music's beauty and force to shine through. The album successfully crafts distinct sonic universes within each track, a quality it frequently achieves.

Songs like 'Summer of All Dead Souls' and 'The Wasteland' showcase the band's ability to oscillate between different moods and styles gracefully. Even the initially overcooked-sounding 'Spiral Jetty' is kept concise. The album concludes with 'Weight of the Sun (Or the Post-Modern Prometheus),' offering a satisfying payoff after the carefully constructed journey.