It isn't that Joy Wants Eternity necessarily breaks new ground; to someone who has listened to a few bands under the "post-rock" moniker, a few familiar motifs can be found throughout the Seattle outfit's debut LP. What they have done, however, is refine those sounds into epics-in-miniature, as some of the most powerful songs to be found on You Who Pretend to Sleep manage to clock-in under five minutes--no small feat in a field where "epic" seems to be synonymous with "four-digit track times." However, that isn't to deny the emotional depth of their songwriting, as throughout the album, the band avoids the same distance afflicting other instrumental acts. Just listening to the tenderness of "From Embrace to Embrace," the triumph of "Existences Rust," or the apprehension and uncertainty flowing into the acceptance at the end of "Death Is a Door That Opens," Joy Wants Eternity demonstrates the dramatic versatility so hailed in the genre by acts such as Austin's Explosions in the Sky or Tokyo's Mono. Yet, despite never drifting too far into the vague ambiance that afflicts other, more technically-driven acts, there is a moment or two on You Who Pretend to Sleep that seem too drawn-out, an impressive feat for such a brief album; "Yet Onward We Marched," the middle song of a three-part story, almost feels lost in itself, while moments of confusion slide into the album's second half. Despite this, Joy Wants Eternity delivers a solid studio effort, an album that may not change the way the game is played, but certainly plays it rather well.

Grinding guitars crunch in a celestial manner, establishing a savage intensity that frequently betrays a peek of heaven. Confused? Don't be. This music achieves a euphoric state through the application of melodic brutality. Guitars blaze with molten fury, expressing chords of searing disposition. The result is so mesmerizing that it's breathlessly hypnotic. And exhausting too. Deafeningly passionate percussion rumbles beneath the layered guitars, providing a suitable locomotion for the grinding tuneage. At other times, the drumming adopts a lazy attitude as it belts out soothing rhythms that gradually amass vitality. A bevy of electronics and effects seethe amid the mix, further cementing the music into a wall of sound that even a neutrino would be hard pressed to penetrate. Ah, but this music is not all brutal and ferocious. There are frequent softer touches that exhibit alluring skill as dreamy passages are crafted, serving as bridges from one pinnacle of intensity to the next. The guitars, however, retain a sense of power that refuses to be suppressed. While displaying restraint, the layered guitar riffs bristle with vigor and soar with majesty. The music possesses a remarkable density that can be exhilarating. The compositions capitalize on this harnessed might, channeling ecstasy into a harsh milieu that shines with the final glory. (www.soniccuriosity.com/sc313.htm)

Record of the Week for June 3rd is Joy Wants Eternity with their album You Who Pretend to Sleep, put out by Beep Repaired . We were big fans of this Seattle quintet when they sent us their DIY debut in a 100% wooden case when we started NLP in early 2005, so of course we're ecstatic that their first official full-length has finally arrived. Crushing, dense, and yet never too much for the ears, this is epic instrumental rock that will never leave you "waiting for the good part." And yet it's still light enough to float on the clouds and sun rays that grace the album cover. - Now Like Photographs on Radio K University of Minnesota, 770 AM | 106.5 FM | 100.7 FM Minneapolis

Joy Wants Eternity's second release continues to stun the listener's senses with an onslaught of shoegazing post-rock. While the first release asked the audience to reinterpret the listening experience, You Who Pretends to Sleep is even more of a subconscious experience. Emotions are richer and more fully developed, and as a result, JWE is able to handle moods and tones with the greatest of ease. With mind-shattering tracks like "Uriel" and "You are Vertical. You are the Horizon" concluding the set, the listener is assured that this is just the beginning of a great adventure for this Seattle-based quintet. Truly, a standout album.