I just listened to the whaler by Home Is Where (great album btw!) and the song whaling for sport has a solid buildup that I really enjoyed! What other songs does everyone enjoy that have similar buildups?
OK I know this absolutely does not sound like what you’ve shared, but my go to band for crazy buildups is Godspeed You! Black Emperor. East Hastings’s buildup gets me every time.
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Kim’s Caravan by Courtney Barnett is one of my favorites.
This might not be exactly what you’re looking for, but Human Qualities by Explosions in the Sky has a pretty sudden increase in intensity near the end. It’s not a slow and steady build up but you might still enjoy it.
Let’s start with relatively mild moods. Of Monsters and Men have a few songs with nice buildups. Dirty Paws for instance.
Midlake’s Young Bride might also be worth mentioning.
Probably unexpected, but she is definitely crazy (in the best possible way): Aurora - All Is Soft Inside
Also her direct relative (musically), Bel Canto - In Zenith
On to rock now, three songs with incredible buildups I cannot help but recommend:
Thunder Road, covered by Tortoise and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
Right on time is the biggest tease of a 3 minute build up to the most disappointing pay off ever.
If you like Neo-Krautrock, The Myrrors have a song Hasta LA Victoria that has a long, meditative build up that repeats, slowly layering in new effects and morphing until finally the drums properly kick in around the 6 and half minute mark (it’s a 14 minute song (so on the shorter side for good Krautrock, haha!))
Victory Song - Ensiferum
One of the best, imo, build ups. Absolutely epic song.
+1 on the Coheed and Cambria recommendation.
I’d also recommend The Final Cut and In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth as well.
The Final Cut ends with an amazing solo.
In Keeping Secrets is amazing the whole way through but the ending is something else.
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