Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 1999, the same four members building slow-burning instrumental epics ever since. The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003) is the genre's defining record, and their Friday Night Lights score won over a whole new audience. Find Explosions in the Sky vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Explosions in the Sky formed in Austin, Texas in 1999. The band's four-member lineup has remained stable throughout their career. They are central figures in American post-rock alongside Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Sigur Rós, with their work widely cited as a defining template for the genre. They composed the score for Friday Night Lights (2004 film and 2006-2011 TV series), which expanded their audience. They have remained on Temporary Residence Limited throughout their catalog.
Explosions in the Sky's sound combines post-rock, instrumental rock, math rock, and ambient with long-form compositions, gradually building dynamic arcs, dual interlocking guitar work, and entirely instrumental arrangements. Their work is widely cited as foundational to American post-rock as a recognized genre.
Temporary Residence Limited pressings of the Explosions in the Sky catalog have been issued in multiple color variant editions and anniversary pressings. The 20th anniversary editions of The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place have been particularly notable.
Listeners new to Explosions in the Sky typically start with The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003).
