With their fourth album V I I I V Belgian instrumental rock quintet Celestial Wolves a worthy addition to the collection of any post-rock aficionado. It may even convince genre cynics with its innovative approach to texture and production, which is demonstrated time and again throughout this record. In an interview the band vehemently denies being a post-rock band but going by Simon Reynolds’ original definition this is post-rock par excellence.

“Post-rock means using rock instrumentation for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and powerchords.” – Simon Reynolds, “Once More with Feeling”, The Wire, Simon (May 1994).

Pronounced as ‘5 equals 4’, V I I I V features a largely new lineup of musicians, but the experience is tangible throughout these compositions. These five gentlemen have really found each other through playing together and through their love of the genre. They are doing things on their own terms and it results in a collection of songs that captures an intangible joy of creating shimmering textures and intricate patterns. Not making it a concept album this time does them good as it seemingly leads them to better compositions, focusing less on meaning and more on what sounds good.

All tracks are standout compositions and the album remains captivating throughout its 48-minute long running time. Highlights include the wedding-grade “The Gift of Common Sense” and the leftfield “Colliding Enditity, Pt. 2” with its shifting drum bridge and abrupt ending. Celestial Wolves view their music as “the soundtrack to someone’s story” but with its undeniable energy and varied approach ‘V I I I V’ might just be the soundtrack to everyone’s story. ★ ★ ★ ★

V I I I V was released by dunk!records on September 19, 2025. The album is available on Vinyl as well as digital download via the Celestial Wolves Bandcamp-page.