Sleepmakeswaves - ...And So We Destroyed Everything (2011)

Sydney, Australia natives and post-rock adventurists Sleepmakeswaves have proven themselves to be real hard-hitters in this genre of music. Since their inception in 2006, they have made quite a career without even releasing a full-length album until this year. They have only released a few independent EP's and received little airplay since 2006, but boy were those five years worth the wait. Sleepmakeswaves' newest album ...And So We Destroyed Everything does not necessarily mean they literally destroyed everything but basically means that they have taken an enormous step forward in their career as a band. Their new album puts their other releases to shame. On past releases, Sleepmakeswaves had many influences in the metal genre but on ...And So We Destroyed Everything they take the more melodic heavy route. Sleepmakeswaves' music is a lot more accessible this time around, leaving out the soft, loud, soft, loud approach that post-rock is known for.

The album opens with 'To You They Are Birds, To Me They Are Voices In The Forest', which begins with a warm and full wall of sound. This is a fast song full of melodic and rhythmic rock. The greatest thing about this track is that it does not drag on like many songs in the genre. It is straight forward and to the point, with the exception of a few ambient breakdowns. The next track, entitled 'In Limbs And Joints', moves quickly along and is about half the length of the first track, but has a similar musical approach. This track leads into 'Our Time Is Short But Your Watch Is Slow', which shows the band diving into their electronic influences. Glitch noises and synths loop through out the track, while glockenspiel and guitar lay over top of these effects. The fourth track, eleven minute epic 'A Gaze Blank And Pitiless As The Sun', really displays the band's full potential. Each member is able to showcase their talents through out this eleven minute masterpiece. '(Hello) Cloud Mountain' is the first single off of the album and is a shorter, more straight forward track. The second heavily electronic track on the album, 'Now We Rise And We Are Everywhere', follows in the same footsteps as 'Our Time Is Short But Your Watch Is Slow'. 'We Like You When You're Awkward' is the shortest song on the album and is another ambient piece that is coupled with acoustic guitars. Lastly, comes the twelve minute explosion of a finale and title track '...And So We Destroyed Everything'. This track follows in the same vein as 'A Gaze Blank And Pitiless As The Sun' and is just as epic but the metal influences are more noticeable here. Towards the end of the track, quiet vocals can be heard layered behind the instrumentation, which is something new for Sleepmakeswaves.

Overall, Sleepmakeswaves have proven themselves to be innovators of the post-rock genre with the release of ...And So We Destroyed Everything. While only a four-piece, Sleepmakeswaves are very skilled at what they do and their level of energy is beyond words. They have the sound of what you would hear coming from a sextet. ...And So We Destroyed Everything easily puts all other post-rock releases, this year, to shame. It is also an independent release, which goes to show that the DIY approach is just as good or better than the major label/production approach. Sleepmakeswaves are at the top of their game, so do yourself a favor and support these wonderful and talented musicians by picking up a copy of their newest release ...And So We Destroyed Everything.

Check out the track 'In Limbs And Joints' off of Sleepmakeswaves' new album ...And So We Destroyed Everything:

Check out the eleven minute epic 'A Gaze Blank And Pitiless As The Sun' off of Sleepmakeswaves' new album ...And So We Destroyed Everything: