Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Named after a Japanese documentary on biker gangs, Canadian post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor built their reputation on driving slabs of distorted, psychedelic ambience designed to create an ear-splitting haze. Formed by guitarists Efrim Menuck and Mike Moya and bassist Mauro Pezzente in Montreal in 1994, the band would sell home-made cassette albums at gigs and were frequently joined by an ever-changing cast of musicians from the vibrant local scene. Inspired by the likes of Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground and The Jesus and Mary Chain, their metallic, droning, cinematic soundscapes climaxed on the album Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven in 2000, which became a cult classic. However, the band split in 2003 after recording follow-up Yanqui U.X.O. with legendary producer Steve Albini. Reuniting in 2010 for All Tomorrow's Parties gigs in the UK and US, they were back to their dissonant, raw and orchestral best for fourth album Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! which won them the Polaris Music Prize and was given a 5/5 review by The Guardian. They released their fifth album in 2015, Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress, followed two years later by Luciferian Towers. More active than ever, Godspeed You! Black Emperor continues with the albums G_d's at State's End! in 2021 and No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead in 2024.