Jagged City – There Are More Of Us, Always
Jagged City – There Are More Of Us, Always
Pelagic Records
30/01/2026
Review by Oli Gonzalez
7/10
Anything with Defeater and past Explosions In The Sky members is worth a listen, right? This is exactly what we get with the instrumental debut of Jagged City, “There Are More Of Us, Always’.
There’s something minimalistic about ‘Imaginary Lines’. Simple arpeggio sequences from the guitars cascade gently like waterfalls, lulling you into a relaxed and tranquil state. This theme continues into the early stages of ‘Rain and Sirens’. It seems as though the marching almost military like drums flirt at building towards a much larger crescendo. It comes. The dynamics shift and it certainly feels more dramatic. Though the production severely lets down what could be an almighty jaw dropping cathartic burst. Maybe this is still to come?
‘Ocean East Ocean West’ comes across as a Russian Circles piece without the distortion; at least in the early parts. Rather complex guitar and bass patterns weaving in between one another in a deceptively advanced tapestry. The distortion kicks in and this adds some welcome gravity and density to the track.
Post rock is often criticised for having songs that are far too long, though Jagged City seem to offer tracks that regularly hover below the 4 minute mark. It feels as though the songs are sometimes rushed and the ideas haven’t really been given enough time to fully develop and grow. They’re often over just before you start to get invested. Which is a shame. I could easily listen to an extended version of ‘Hairspring’, especially with those inviting and warm guitar tones! Again, like a Russian Circles composition though with much less crushing and apocalyptic atmosphere. More like the atmosphere at your grandparents’ home; warm, inviting, and safe.
Although that warm buzz fades away during ‘Minus Power’, and it’s replaced with a more sombre almost melancholic tone. Feel your serotonin drain with this moody encounter.
Blast beats in post-rock? I’d never expect that! That’s what you get in ‘(Deluge In A Paper Cup)’, which is a rewarding cathartic avalanche at the end of this journey. If there was an advertisement for what black metal would sound like minus the distortion, this would be it!
Overall, it’s a brave effort with some promising segments. Though with few too many highlights and peaks, this will sadly do little to shake up the genre.
TRACKLISTING:
01. (Don’t Dream It’s Over)
02. Imaginary Lines
03. Rain and Shine
04. Ocean East, Ocean West
05. Hairspring
06. Minus Power
07. (Deluge In A Paper Clip)
LINKS:
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