Album Review: Din Of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs & Landings (Big Scary Monsters)

Din Of Celestial Birds, the Leeds-based progressive post-rock instrumental band, return with their brand-new full-length studio record ‘Takeoffs & Landings’, a concept album all about adventure, travel, and the journey of life. It will be released via their new label Big Scary Monsters on August 7th, 2026.

A bold showcase of adventure, albeit displayed in Din of Celestial Birds’ highly emotive way, this new album is very colourful and incredibly textured. Filled with all manner of thought-provoking melodies, potent post rock energy, progressive twists and turns, and so much more. It’s an impassioned listen that comes with layer after layer of heartfelt melodrama and excitability.

Yet, it is the the sense of adventure it distills within that makes it so much more. The sense of standing on a mountaintop, wandering a deep forest, floating in a vast ocean, gazing upon ancient ruins, and so on. Across the eight tracks, the listener will be transported to wide and varied locations, some of which are more mental landscapes, and through the experience, hopefully transformed.

In some ways, this is a far simpler listen than previous album ‘The Night is for Dreamers’, but in others, it’s far more complex. There are times throughout where a mix of instrumental harmonies confounds, times when a heavier eruption captivates, times when deep melodies create a sense of knowing, and times when what’s on offer captures the feeling of being open and free. I’m not saying that you’ll feel all of this, but you will feel some of it.

I think that’s the most impressive thing about this album. The fact that there are so many different ways to experience it and chances are, each new listen has the potential to shift that time and and time again. Especially as you start to get more familiar with the songs.

I also love the fact that it’s so digestible too. Which isn’t always something that can be said about this kind of music. Credit to Din of Celestial Birds, they’ve clearly worked hard to make this music more accessible, without losing the post potency that makes it so important.

They have also worked hard to vary things up and there’s a fair bit of experimentation going on throughout. Such as hefty synth that makes When Suddenly… one of my personal favourites. I love how the first half is so energetic, and the second half has calmer melody, but builds up to an epic finish. It’s far from alone as a favourite though and elsewhere there are some absolute stunners.

Stunners like the vibrant title track, that fills the heart, mind, and soul with warming sunshine. A moment to forget all your worries and lose yourself to a new and exciting adventure. What will you experience? Who knows, but it will be special. Just like You Are My Temple is special, leaving me close to tears through its sheer beauty. Few bands have this effect on me, but Din of Celestial Birds seem to always find a way to my soul.

How about the bright brilliance of Migratory Patterns? Or how about the incredible journey that Second Star to the Right, And Straight on ‘Til Morning takes us on? We’re off to Never-Neverland indeed.

Their best record yet? This feels like a more refined record, even though it doesn’t lack in scope. It has definitely got some of my favourite Din Of Celestial Birds tracks on it to date and I know I’ll be listening to it for months, if not longer, to come.

Din Of Celestial Birds – Takeoffs & Landings Track Listing:

1. Takeoffs & Landings
2. Marmoris
3. From This Summit We Can See the Heavens & Stars
4. When Suddenly…
5. You Are My Temple
6. Migratory Patterns
7. I Hope That Road Leads You Somewhere Beautiful, Somewhere You Belong
8. Second Star to the Right, And Straight on ‘Til Morning

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