Human beings were either sucked into the totality of something much bigger (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) or rendered part-mythical (Sigur Rós). Post-metal allowed for the music to be fleshy and real. When post-rock reduced in volume, it often brought with it a momentary alleviation of intensity, either as a pause for breath or to form a point of contrast. When the distortion cut back during the post-millennial music of Neurosis, the band sounded no less anguished. Tears and blood soaked through the fabric of quiet.
