…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead has been enjoying a rebound period of goodwill surrounding the release of its seventh record, Tao of the Dead, since January of this year. It’s about time, too. The band was poised to become one of the elite untouchables after its seminal Source Tags and Codes album topped so many year-end lists back in 2002. But the backlash set in almost immediately, and the band couldn’t catch a break. It took four albums for even a whiff of praise to blow back in its direction. And Tao of the Dead is a deserving standout, as it encapsulates everything the band does well from the bombastic percussive breakaways to its over the top grandiosity, all couched in a thematic coat of mythical arms. “Summer of Dead Souls” is an explosive rocker, showcasing that the band’s hunger and angst haven’t been diminished by the business end of things. I can’t even recall the last video I saw from this band, but the “silent film” treatment works in this context. And the song just downright rocks.