ALBUM REVIEW: X: The Godless Void and Other Stories – …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead

For a good two decades …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD have been pedalling a pretty popular brand of American alternative rock with remarkable success. Combining post-rock habits with a punk rock attitude, the two piece made the expansive sounds of pre-millennia alternative their home, and whilst bands like THE SMASHING PUMPKINS went on to massive fame, …TRAIL OF DEAD consolidated their underground reputation and punctuated it with renowned live shows and material that was as emotional as it was creative. 

Now on their 10th offering, there is a distinct feeling that …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD are trying to take things back to the 90s. There is quite a lot of material present on X: The Godless Void and Other Stories that wouldn’t sound out of place on a VERVE record back when they were at the height of their Brit pop fame. There is a safe flavour to the entire record, and as such a lot of the cuts just feel like passable, middle of the road cuts that …TRAIL OF DEAD could probably write with their eyes closed. The opening All Who Wander has a chorus that is easy to like, but just as easy to forget, which is more than can be said for the slurry Something Like This, that feels sluggish and easily overlooked. The vocals on this track sound uninspired and drab and the rest of the song falls in suit. 

In fact, the reality of the matter is that X: The Godless Void takes about three songs before it finally hits any form of stride. The title track, whilst benefiting from a bit more energy than previous tracks, the unimaginative lyrics that make up the base of the chorus makes the whole song feel lacking, which is unfortunate considering the song features an interesting bridge section that shows off the post-rock talent of …TRAIL OF DEAD well, and reminds you why this band are worth the time of day. Don’t Look Down is the first truly good song on the record, with its driving bass lines and emotive chorus that is as much of an earworm as it is a genuinely enjoyable listen. This is the song that feels most natural, despite still being a pretty standard alternative rock anthem. 

The overwhelming vibe of X: The Godless Void is one of safety, and one that has subsequently gone against the grain for what made …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD such a uniquely enjoyable act in the first place. Where tracks like Gone are dull and meandering affairs, it detracts from the punk and rock roots that formed the core of their original sound, and also makes you forget the fact that …TRAIL OF DEAD used to write interesting music. There is very little on X: The Godless Void that can be really labelled as interesting or even a little bit out there, if anything at all. 

There is of course little to be said that will turn off the truly faithful from getting their teeth firmly wedged into X: The Godless Void. But for anyone who might have heard about …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, maybe through their seminal Source Codes & Tags record, then there will be little material of true note that will truly hook in any potential new fans. If easy listening was what …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD were aiming for then they hit the nail on the head, because this album is immensely easy to whack on and tune out to. You’ll only really need to pay attention to Don’t Look Down, but you can happily listen to the rest and not worry about really missing anything else. This is one of those records that feels made for everyone yet no one at all. 

Rating: 5/10

X: The Godless Void and Other Stories is out now via InsideOut Music.

Like …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD on Facebook.