Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s music has always been epic, cinematic, and apocalyptic, the Canadian instrumental outfit creating a sweeping, widescreen sound as beautiful and inspiring as it is harrowing. And that’s never been truer than on their sophomore album. Consisting of four songs spanning 90 minutes and two discs, Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven elevated the band’s post-rock to terrific new heights, as evidenced by the opening crescendos of “Storm,” full of soaring strings and gorgeous horns. (Side note: When my friend Nate got married, his bride walked down the aisle to “Storm” and it was a perfect moment.)

But this being Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the moments of rapture are always balanced by moments of darkness. Every surging string arrangement or triumphant guitar cascade is followed by a journey into the shadowlands characterized by haunting drones and the band’s knack for finding equally haunting samples and field recordings. A gas station PA warning against homeless individuals ends “Storm” on a dystopian note. Pentecostal preacher Helene “Spring” DeBoe’s radio broadcast imbues “Static” with an unearthly tone as she rants about seeing God and going insane. And an old man’s reminiscence about Coney Island begins “Sleep” with a lament for a gentler time.

Of course, this being Godspeed You! Black Emperor, they make even the darkest moments absolutely enthralling as they slowly, steadily build towards a cathartic release that gives you the briefest flash of hope for this ol’ world of ours. 25+ years after the album’s release, we can use all the hope we can get.