Codeine Essentials

The New York band Codeine arguably invented the subgenre slowcore. Formed in 1989, Codeine took the quiet-to-loud dynamics of early indie rock, and then they slowed everything way, way, way down. The result was melancholy but thrilling, as songs built up from near silence to feedback-drenched climaxes. After releasing one EP and two albums, Codeine split up in 1994. The band's members would go on to play in a number of well-regarded post-rock and indie groups, including Come, Rex and June of 44. And Codeine would inspire bands from Mogwai to The Twilight Sad.