Din Of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs and Landings
Din Of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs and Landings
Big Scary Monsters
Release Date: 07/08/26
Review by: Oli Gonzalez
9/10
“I’ve sent you the new Din Of Celestial Birds album…I think you’ll really dig the album”
They know me too well!
I’ll be honest, I get many review requests from bands I have no real interest in checking out. Though when the upcoming Din Of Celestial Birds(DOCB) album arrived, I got way more excited than usual!
Let me introduce you to DOCB. My introduction to the band came as they played a small dingy and dimly lit hole in the wall venue in Manchester circa May 2024. Since then, they’ve played the likes of Arctangent and Damnation festivals here in the UK, and have spread their wings as far as China for Can Festival and more! Their brand of cinematic post rock is one that consistently punches way above its weight. Seeing a DOCB tshirt at a post rick gig is not a rare site and they’re way more popular than their rather modest social media following would suggest. How far can their upcoming album “Takeoffs and Landing” take them?
Well, this is by far their most sophisticated and mature release to date! They come flying out of the blocks and don’t hold back when they engulf you with a radiant and euphoric wall of sound! Opulent and majestic, it’s a statement of their ambition. If memory serves, they operate with 3 guitarists. If this is the case, they utilise every one to full effect, creating a consistently impenetrably dense and multi-faceted sound. It really is one to enjoy on full blast with your headphones on for the optimal listening experience. Though it’s not all about huge cathartic soundscapes.
Though they can dial it down and give you breathing space when you need it. Take ‘You Are My Temple’ for instance. With the distortion pedals put to one side, you get the chance to enjoy this opulent segment whereby the silence and space between notes is just as important as the notes themselves. This is caressing, gentle, and worth the ride on its own. Though you’ll find yourself becoming lost in this journey and won’t even be aware of the subtle climb towards the song’s crescendo…and a hell of a crescendo at that! ‘Migratory Patterns’ follows a similar compositional pattern with a more ambient and calmer dynamic building towards a rewarding climax. The final song of the album begins this way too, and it feels as though we’re being taken on a new age journey, with the synths giving an Enigma or Enya style vibe. It’s introspective, thought provoking, aesthetic. A calm song to finish the album, right? Nope, DOCB are taking you for one last adrenaline fueled ride! This will raise some pulses as the distortion pedals are cranked up. But ultimately this serves as a jubilant and blissful zenith for what’s been one hell of a ride.
We’ve seen some incredible post rock in 2026. Hammock, If These Trees Could Talk, Nordic Giants, and MONO ( just to name a few ) have all released new records this year. DOCB rank right up there with “Takeoffs and Landings” and is truly a top tier post-rock record!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Takeoff And Landings
02. Marmoris
03. From This Summit We Can See The Heavens And Stars
04. When Suddenly
05. You are my temple
06. Migratory Patterns
07. I Hope That Road Leads You Somewhere Beautiful, Somewhere You Belong
08. Second Star To The Right, and Straight On ‘Til Morning
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal, with photos used with kind permission of Necroshons. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
