Godspeed You! Black Emperor

GodSpeed You! Black Emperor, aka GY!BE, is a Montreal based collective led by guitarist Efrim Menuck whose music is built on a fairly unique and fully developed sound that is a world unto itself. Their work is all instrumental with occasional found sound segments mixed in. They write grand, epic pieces that patiently gather momentum through repetitious drones, creating layers of textures through instrumental interplay while cranking up the tension until it all explodes into a furious crescendo. The themes they introduce are not really catchy, but the hooks are hypnotic in nature. Their work gets quite dark at times, but often opens the door for a slight emotional lift. This is music that demands full attention and once the listener gets into the right headspace, can be viscerally absorbing. Their shows are usually multimedia experiences that involve a simultaneous video presentation as well.