BIG|BRAVE in grief or in hope
Released Jun 12, 2026 Thrill Jockey
Consensus forming 4 professional reviews Updated Jun 15, 2026
Broadly positive consensus
Consensus is still forming across 4 professional reviews. BIG|BRAVE's in grief or in hope confronts sorrow and resilience with a tidal, tactile sound that makes anguish feel communal from the first seconds.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
What May Be the Kindest Way to Leave
2 critic mentions
“On opener "what may be the kindest way to leave," waves of doom-laden noise set in” — AllMusic
Verdure
2 critic mentions
“a gargantuan loop of distorted bass that somehow becomes comforting as it repeats” — AllMusic
In Grief or in Hope
3 critic mentions
“The closing title track is a phaser-heavy drone that comes closer to doom metal, though it also seems like the brightest and most hopeful song on the album.” — AllMusic
Full critic consensus
BIG|BRAVE's in grief or in hope confronts sorrow and resilience with a tidal, tactile sound that makes anguish feel communal from the first seconds. Critics agree the record's power comes from its thick, deliberate use of distortion and drone, where hope and grief coexist in sustained waves rather than neat resolutions.
Across four professional reviews the album earned an 82.5/100 consensus score, with critics consistently pointing to centerpiece tracks as proof of the band's ambition. “What May Be the Kindest Way to Leave” and “Verdure” recur as the best songs on in grief or in hope, praised for turning feedback and a gargantuan looped bass into emotional weight; reviewers also singled out “In Grief or in Hope” and “An Uttering of Antipathy” for their pitch-corrected glow and dense guitar textures. Professional reviews highlight themes of trauma, collective reckoning, and the body as container, noting how doom-laden noise and slowcore-drone influences balance overwhelm with surprising space.
While praise centers on the trio's ability to enlarge their sound without losing clarity, some critics temper enthusiasm by emphasizing the album's relentless intensity, which can feel confronting rather than consoling. Still, the critical consensus suggests in grief or in hope is a compelling, often essential listen for those drawn to emotionally intense, texture-forward music. Read on for detailed reviews that map the record's standout moments and sonic strategies.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
What May Be the Kindest Way to Leave
A Shape of Shame
The Ineptitude for Mutual Discernment
Holding Tongue
Verdure
Skin Ripper
An Uttering of Antipathy
In Grief or in Hope
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What Critics Are Saying
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