One of the most common characteristics among post rock bands is the complete denial that they are a post rock band. Explosions in the Sky insists that they are “cinematic rock.” This Will Destroy You defiantly calls themselves “doomgaze.” Mogwai calls the term “lazy” and says they’re just experimental rock.

And Mono, from Japan, themselves sneer at the label, insisting that they are a neo-classical group.

But as pretentious as that might sound, Hymn to the Immortal Wind leaves no room for doubt.

With a twenty-eight piece orchestra filling out their meandering, story-telling compositions, here Mono creates a musical narrative of epic proportions (true to the aesthetic, the album’s liner notes includes a short story to accompany each song).

But saying that the band is “backed by” an orchestra feels a little misrepresentative. At several points, it feels much more like an orchestra featuring an electric guitar. Drummer Yasunori Takada often trades his drum set for a timpani or glockenspiel. Bassist/keyboardist Tamaki Kunishi even plays harpsichord on a few tracks. At several occasions, the melody is carried by the violins and cellos while guitarists Taka Goto and Yoda noodle about with atmospherics.

Which isn’t to say that there’s no rock at all in this post rock. On the contrary, some of the heavy moments on this record are more explosive than anything their contemporaries have done. Opener “Ashes in the Snow” builds on its motif until it explodes. The climax of “Pure As Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm)” bursts with guitar feedback. “The Battle to Heaven” utilizes a straightforward rock drum beat as the song swells long past the point of bursting.

And herein lies the best part of Mono. While they may seem buttoned down with their orchestras and glockenspiels and timpani, at their core, they are a rock band. And while this might be much more apparent on other, less orchestral albums, no amount of classical restraint can keep them from letting their hair down. And while there are many, many other records in their catalog that would be worth adding to my vinyl collection, Hymn To The Immortal Wind is the album that best encapsulates what sets Mono aside from their peers.