Norwegian art-rock project GIANT SKY are preparing to bring their sprawling musical trilogy to a suitably epic conclusion with not one, but two new albums arriving this October. Because apparently one emotionally devastating post-rock voyage simply wasnโt enough, mun. ๐ค
Led by Norwegian musician Erlend Viken โ vocalist, keyboardist and principal songwriter of acclaimed progressive rock outfit Soup โ GIANT SKY will release Giant Sky III on 2 October 2026.
A companion postlude album, The Further We Go The Deeper It Gets, will follow two weeks later on 16 October 2026, completing a deeply personal body of work that has stretched across years of musical exploration.
๐ New Single โLifting Applesโ Features Stuart Braithwaite
The first glimpse into this final chapter comes through the evocative new single โLifting Applesโ, featuring additional guitar from Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai.
Itโs a collaboration that makes perfect sense. GIANT SKYโs vast, atmospheric music draws from alternative art rock, post-rock, electronica, ambient music, indie, folk and progressive rock โ the sort of sonic territory where Mogwaiโs towering guitar landscapes feel completely at home.
The result is a track built to be experienced rather than simply heard: immersive, reflective and carrying that beautiful sense that something enormous might be waiting just beyond the horizon.
๐ง Listen to โLifting Applesโ:
https://giantskyband.bandcamp.com/album/giant-sky-iii
๐ Walking Against the Digital Current
While modern music becomes increasingly shaped by algorithms, artificial intelligence and the pursuit of digital perfection, Erlend Viken has deliberately pushed GIANT SKY in the opposite direction.
The project embraces the unpredictable, imperfect and deeply human side of making music. Rather than sanding away every rough edge, Viken allows the compositions to breathe, wander and develop naturally.
Some of the ideas featured on Giant Sky III have existed for many years, making the album something of a musical snapshot covering 25 years of Vikenโs life as a composer.
โWe live in a time where music is increasingly shaped by algorithms, AI and endless digital possibilities. I suppose this record is my way of walking upstream a little bit โ taking the slower route, trusting the human imperfections, and letting the music find its own shape.
โIt wasnโt a quick album to make, but Iโm proud of what it became: ambitious where it needed to be, modest where it should be, and above all, honest.โ
That commitment to honesty sits right at the heart of GIANT SKY. This isnโt music built to please a playlist algorithm before disappearing into the digital fog. Itโs music created to unfold slowly, reveal itself over time and reward anyone willing to step inside its world.
Proper headphones-on, lights-off territory, this. ๐
๐ป An Impressive Cast of Guest Musicians
Alongside Stuart Braithwaite, the album features contributions from Andreas Berg, Myrtoula Rรธe and Tuva Halse.
Together, the musicians help build a richly layered tapestry of guitars, atmospheric textures and progressive arrangements likely to appeal to fans of:
- Mogwai
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor
- Pink Floyd
- Nick Drake
- Arcade Fire
- Mike Oldfield
- Sigur Rรณs
That is one gloriously adventurous collection of influences. Stick the kettle on, cancel your plans and prepare to disappear into another dimension for a while, butt. โ๐
๐ฟ GIANT SKY III
Release date: 2 October 2026
Format: Vinyl and digital
Style: Art rock and post-rock
Country: Norway
Label: Self-released
Running time: 47 minutes and 10 seconds
Tracklist
- Mundane Morning โ 5:40
- Nothing To Forgive Nothing To Forget โ 7:07
- Limerance โ 5:01
- All The Rage โ 7:12
- Reveries Of Gold โ 4:26
- Fleeting Glimpse โ 7:23
- Sun World โ 5:22
- Lifting Apples โ 4:56
๐ THE FURTHER WE GO THE DEEPER IT GETS
Release date: 16 October 2026
Format: Vinyl and digital
Style: Art rock and post-rock
Country: Norway
Label: Self-released
Running time: 34 minutes
Tracklist
- Dancing Alone โ 2:51
- Repeating Trope โ 6:22
- Step Into The Garden โ 5:19
- Compassion With Worms โ 3:39
- Whoโs Life Am I Leading โ 5:49
- Ruin The Sunset โ 2:28
- Throw It Off The Bridge โ 7:28
๐ Pre-Order Information
๐ง Digital pre-order โ Giant Sky III:
https://frontl.ink/qyjvobo
๐ง Digital pre-order โ The Further We Go The Deeper It Gets:
https://frontl.ink/bpb4mpl
๐ฟ Physical pre-orders:
https://giantskyband.bandcamp.com/
๐ฅ The Final Descent Begins
With Giant Sky III and The Further We Go The Deeper It Gets, Erlend Viken is preparing to close the door on an enormous and deeply personal musical chapter.
Everything revealed so far points towards a finale filled with sweeping post-rock landscapes, progressive ambition, fragile human emotion and music allowed to find its own natural shape.
โLifting Applesโ is available now. Giant Sky III lands on 2 October, followed by The Further We Go The Deeper It Gets on 16 October 2026.
Get ready to go deeper. Much, much deeper. ๐๐ค
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Zero Apologies.
