Godspeed You! Black Emperor

With nine members climaxing on guitars, drums, and a pit’s worth of strings, post-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor plays mood-swing epics that reach higher and sprawl farther than any room could contain. The Montreal nonet’s last album, 2002’s Yanqui U.X.O., stretches three set pieces over a disquieting 75-minute expanse, wrapping urgency into comparative sedateness that hums political murmurs just the same. Live, the group makes climactic, intense symphonies, complete with accompanying visuals. On hiatus since 2008 due to an “existential freakout” caused by the Iraq War, GY!BE has ostensibly deemed it clear to emerge from hiding and reunite for a short U.S. tour, with most of its members intact.

Updated 03/02/2011