Godspeed You! Black Emperor (GY!BE) released “NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD” on October 4, 2024, offering both a musical and political masterpiece. The album’s title commemorates the 28,340 Palestinians who lost their lives during Israeli attacks on Gaza between October 7, 2023, and February 13, 2024. This work stands as a reflection of the band’s longstanding tradition of using music as a medium for resistance against injustice.
With this album, Godspeed You! Black Emperor not only honors those who lost their lives but also highlights the systemic oppression, warfare, and imperialist policies that led to such devastation. Upon the album’s release, the band issued a statement urging global audiences not to remain silent in the face of these atrocities. They condemned the impunity of war crimes and the ongoing persecution of marginalized communities. As such, this album transcends its musical boundaries, serving as a requiem, a protest, and a call to action.
Spanning 54 minutes and 14 seconds across six tracks, the album once again showcases the band’s layered and epic composition style. Tracks like "BABYS IN A THUNDERCLOUD" and "RAINDROPS CAST IN LEAD" delve into the emotional depths of the band’s sound, while shorter pieces like "BROKEN SPIRES AT DEAD KAPITAL" deliver concentrated and striking impacts.
Widely praised by critics, the album was celebrated for its ability to convey political themes through the medium of musical storytelling. Pitchfork described it as “brilliantly urgent,” highlighting its role as a soundtrack for an uncertain and perilous world.
Album Line-Up
The album’s line-up reflects the band’s instrumental diversity and creative vision. Guest vocalist Michele Fiedler Fuentes adds a profound emotional depth to "Raindrops Cast in Lead."
- Thierry Amar – Electric bass, double bass
- David Bryant – Electric guitar, tape loops
- Timothy Herzog – Drums, glockenspiel
- Aidan Girt – Drums
- Efrim Menuck – Electric guitar, tape loops
- Michael Moya – Electric guitar
- Mauro Pezzente – Electric bass
- Sophie Trudeau – Violin
- Karl Lemieux – 16mm projections
- Philippe Leonard – 16mm projections
- Michele Fiedler Fuentes – Vocals ("Raindrops Cast in Lead")
Tracklist
- SUN IS A HOLE SUN IS VAPORS – (5:32): The opening track sets a melancholic tone with dynamic shifts and a haunting atmosphere.
- BABYS IN A THUNDERCLOUD – (13:37): A sprawling, epic piece that captures the emotional depth characteristic of the band’s compositions.
- RAINDROPS CAST IN LEAD – (13:18): Michele Fiedler Fuentes’ vocals enrich this track, making it the emotional centerpiece of the album.
- BROKEN SPIRES AT DEAD KAPITAL – (3:35): The shortest track on the album delivers an intense burst of energy within a brief runtime.
- PALE SPECTATOR TAKES PHOTOGRAPHS – (11:18): A cinematic and contemplative piece blending themes of observation and melancholy.
- GREY RUBBLE – GREEN SHOOTS – (6:54): A powerful closing track that reflects themes of hope and renewal, ending the album on a poignant note.
