...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

Biography

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (often abbreviated as Trail of Dead), are an American alternative rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's earliest stable lineup consisted of Conrad Keely, Jason Reece, Kevin Allen and Neil Busch, though for most of the band's history Keely and Reece were the core members with other musicians serving for varying lengths of time. Trail of Dead had a cult following and were known for their energetic and protracted live performances. Between 1998 and 2023, the band released eleven studio albums and five EPs along with one live album and twenty-two singles. The artwork for all of the albums was created by Keely (who is also a painter) using various media. This artwork has recurring mythical and historical themes.
Their latest studio album, XI: Bleed Here Now×XI: Bleed Here Now15 July 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Our Epic Attempts2:492Long Distance Hell1:273Field Song4:324Penny Candle3:275No Confidence5:156String Theme0:387Kill Everyone1:228Growing Divide3:239Pigments0:5210Golden Sail5:3111A Life Less Melancholy1:5012Taken by the Hand11:1213Contra Mundum5:1614Darkness Into Light1:2915Water Tower5:0616Sounds of Horror0:5617Protest Streets6:0918The Widening of Gyre1:1819Millenium Actress4:2320Salt in Your Eyes2:2821English Magic2:5722Calm as the Valley2:23, was released on July 15, 2022. In February 2023, the band posted on Instagram an image reading "Trail closed" which created rumours that the band had broken up. Although the band still exists, Conrad Keely later clarified they had no immediate plans to either tour nor make any more music in the traditional sense, citing a disastrous final tour, exhaustion, and the inhospitable state of the music industry towards smaller bands as the main drivers behind their decision.

Formation

Keely and Reece have been friends since their youth, and originally in Hawaii. They each formed their first bands in Olympia, Washington, where Keely studied at The Evergreen State College. Keely, a songwriter and bassist named James Olsen and a guitarist (Paul Westmoreland) started a band in the early 1990s. The band was called varied things before settling on "Benedict Gehlen" (named after a monk laid to rest in the St. Martin's Abby in Olympia). That went on in various names and forms until 1993. Soon after, Keely became involved in a group called Nancyville, while Reece went on to play drums with Honeybucket and then queercore band Mukilteo Fairies (the name is a play on words, referencing the ferry boat that travels between Mukilteo and Clinton, Washington). Eventually, Keely and Reece moved to Austin, Texas. The two started playing as a duo under the moniker "You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead." The band expanded eventually to include guitarist Kevin Allen and bassist Neil Busch. They then officially lengthened their name to "...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead". Keely's girlfriend from Olympia, Deanne Rowley (later Deanne McAdams), briefly played with them as a live back-up guitarist.
According to the band's website, their name is taken from an ancient Mayan ritual chant which showed a similarity to an ancient Egyptian chant. They have also stated that this is a joke.

Rise and success (1995–2006)

In 1995, Trail of Dead issued their first release, a song titled "Novena Without Faith" on a cassette-only compilation titled Austin Live Houses, followed by another self-titled four-song cassette on Golden Hour. In January 1998, they released a self-titled album on Trance Syndicate.
Trail of Dead soon joined Merge Records after the Trance Syndicate label folded. The band released Madonna on Merge in late 1999 and toured the U.S., opening for labelmates Superchunk to promote it. They signed to Interscope Records and released the Relative Ways EP in 2001.
In early 2002, Trail of Dead released Source Tags & Codes, which received wide acclaim, including a 10/10 rating from Pitchfork Media, later saying it is "one of indie rock's truly epic albums". Their following tour was chronicled by Rolling Stone, with Andrew Dansby commenting on their group dynamic as a "post-punk Voltron, that just might be the most exciting unit working today."
A follow-up EP to Source Tags & Codes×Source Tags & Codes21 February 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Invocation1:312It Was There That I Saw You3:573Another Morning Stoner4:334Baudelaire4:165Homage3:296How Near How Far3:547Life Is Elsewhere0:558Heart in the Hand of the Matter4:489Monsoon5:5310Days of Being Wild3:2611Relative Ways4:0312After the Laughter1:1513Source Tags & Codes6:08 was released in April 2003, titled The Secret of Elena's Tomb. The EP contained the electronic track "Intelligence" which featured and was co-written by Tyler Jacobson from A Roman Scandal, Reece's other band.
In July 2004, it was announced that Neil Busch had been removed from the band and Danny Wood would be taking his place on bass. Second drummer/percussionist Doni Schroader also joined the band around this time. Trail of Dead released Worlds Apart on January 25, 2005. Music videos were filmed for singles "And the Rest Will Follow×And the Rest Will Follow28 March 2005 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAAnd the Rest Will FollowB1Back in New York CityB2The Porpoise Song" and "Caterwaul". The band also added live keyboardist David Longoria to their touring lineup. Now a six-piece, the band toured heavily on the album, with its trademark explosive live performances and a two-drummer attack. Opening for part of this tour was Longoria's band The Black, which featured Longoria on vocals and guitarist Alan Schaefer, with the rest of TOD filling out the group. The band's fifth album, So Divided×So Divided14 November 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro: A Song of Fire and Wine1:422Stand in Silence4:353Wasted State of Mind5:274Naked Sun6:045Gold Heart Mountain Top Queen Directory2:146So Divided6:297Life5:598Eight Days of Hell2:099Witch’s Web4:1110Segue: In the Realms of the Unreal2:1911Sunken Dreams5:05, was released on November 14, 2006. Clay Morris replaced Longoria as live keyboardist, and eventually became a full-time member.
On April 26, 2005, their song "Will You Smile Again For Me" was featured at the conclusion of The Shield's 7th episode of their 4th season, "Hurt".

Post-Interscope era (2007–2023)

In late summer of 2007, Trail of Dead once again toured Europe, this time with drummer Aaron Ford replacing Doni Schroader. Danny Wood was absent from these performances, having quietly left the band. He would eventually be replaced by Jay Leo Phillips. The band provided the soundtrack to the 2007 film Hell on Wheels, a documentary about the formation of Roller Derby in Austin, Texas. After their overseas tour ended on March 15, 2007, Trail of Dead returned to the studio to begin recording their sixth record. In October, they supported the virtual band Dethklok on an Adult Swim college tour. In that same month, the band became independent after leaving Interscope Records due to a lack of support.
In early 2008, Trail of Dead went back into the studio without a record contract. Using their own capital, they filmed their recording experiences and released them on YouTube. On October 21, they released an EP, resembling an "album teaser", titled Festival Thyme×Festival Thyme21 October 2008 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Bells of Creation (Machete mix)A2Within Your ReachB1Festival ThymeB2The Betrayal of Roger Casement and the Irish Brigade on Richter Scale Records. On February 17, 2009, a 13-track album, The Century of Self×The Century of Self17 February 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11The Giants Causeway2:382The Far Pavilions4:543Isis Unveiled6:274Halcyon Days6:365Bells of Creation5:236Fields of Coal3:427Inland Sea4:088Luna Park4:229Pictures of an Only Child4:4310Insatiable (One)2:0211Ascending4:4712An August Theme0:5013Insatiable (Two)3:03Disc 21Gargoyle Waiting5:422Bells of Creation5:483Aged Dolls9:284A Perfect Teenhood6:535Clair De Lune9:376Totally Natural6:267Mistakes and Regrets5:368Richter Scale Madness6:46 was released. In September 2010, Keely posted news of an upcoming album 2011 release, produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith, with an accompanying comic book. Smith is also set to re-mix their debut eponymous album. On November 10, 2010, the band announced that their seventh album, Tao of the Dead×Tao of the Dead4 February 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Introduction: “Let’s Experiment”2:242Pure Radio Cosplay5:263Summer of All Dead Souls4:174Cover the Days Like a Tidal Wave2:515Fall of the Empire2:286The Wasteland2:337Spiral Jetty1:488Weight of the Sun (or the Post-Modern Prometheus)2:199Pure Radio Cosplay (reprise)3:1810Ebb Away2:4111The Fairlight Pendant5:4412Tao of the Dead, Part II: Strange News From Another Planet: I. Know Your Honor / II. Rule by Being Just / III. The Ship Impossible / IV. Strange Epiphany / V. Racing and Hunting16:32, would be released in North America on February 8, 2011. It was also revealed that the band had stripped down to a core four-piece, and that Jay Phillips, Clay Morris and longtime guitarist Kevin Allen had been removed from the lineup. Circumstances of these departures are currently unknown. Aaron Ford recorded all of the drums for Tao of the Dead, but then left the band. The band performed live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on February 7, 2011, debuting bassist Autry Fulbright II (from Reece side project Midnight Masses) and drummer/guitarist Jamie Miller, of the band theSTART. On February 17, 2011, it was announced that Reece would guest host Toby Ryan's radio show on Austin's KROX-FM (101X).
In 2012, the band recorded material for a new album in Hanover, Germany again with producer Frenchie Smith and engineer Mirko Hofmann. On August 22, the band announced their eighth studio album, Lost Songs×Lost Songs19 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 30 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Open Doors5:022Pinhole Cameras4:483Up to Infinity4:474Opera Obscura3:455Lost Songs2:046Flower Card Games4:537A Place to Rest3:158Heart of Wires2:559Catatonic3:3510Awestruck4:1011Bright Young Things3:4112Time and Again2:5213Skywhaling2:2414Mountain Battle Song4:5415Verschollene Songs2:0716Idols of Perversity2:34Disc 21Open Doors4:512Idols of Perversity2:233Pinhole Cameras4:474Up to Infinity4:475Opera Obscura3:436Lost Songs2:007Flower Card Games4:168A Place to Rest3:109Heart of Wires2:5410Catatonic3:2811Awestruck4:1212Bright Young Things3:3613Mountain Battle Song4:5114Time and Again2:49, and released a song entitled "Up To Infinity", which was dedicated to Pussy Riot. Cover art was revealed on September 6, 2012. On September 25, they released "Catatonic×Catatonic2 October 2012 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Catatonic3:35" through Spotify.
In May 2013, the band announced a forthcoming EP, Tao of the Dead Part III, via Twitter. Using PledgeMusic, they began accepting pre-orders for special editions of the EP. In February 2014, the band announced a limited U.S. tour focused on playing music from Source Tags and Codes and plans to record their next album, a sequel to Tao of the Dead, in the spring and summer of 2014. In April 2014, they released the album Live at Rockpalast 2009×Live at Rockpalast 200925 April 2014 · Album · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Intro2:042The Giants Causeway / The Far Pavilions6:243It Was There That I Saw You3:414Isis Unveiled6:225Homage3:206Bells of Creation5:447Will You Smile Again?6:438Relative Ways5:179Caterwaul4:4910Another Morning Stoner5:1911Claire de Lune3:5412Totally Natural12:3713Mistakes and Regrets4:4014A Perfect Teenhood9:56. In August 2014, the band announced their ninth album, IX, using an online jigsaw puzzle. Pitchfork suggested "the arrival at a crossroads" for the band with the album. After a subsequent tour the band, Keely moved to Cambodia and released his debut solo album, Original Machines, in 2016. In November 2017, the band announced a European tour to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the release of their second album, Madonna×Madonna19 October 1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracksA1And You Will Know Them…A2Mistakes & RegretsA3Totally NaturalA4Blight Takes AllA5Clair de LuneA6Flood of RedA7Children of the Hydra’s TeethB1Mark David ChapmanB2Up From RedemptionB3Aged DollsB4The Day the Air Turned BlueB5A Perfect TeenhoodB6Sigh Your Children, performing the album in full.
On November 14, 2019, the band released "Don't Look Down", the first single from their tenth album, X: The Godless Void and Other Stories×X: The Godless Void and Other Stories17 January 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Opening Crescendo2:532All Who Wander4:543Something Like This4:364Into the Godless Void3:585Don’t Look Down4:426Gone4:047Children of the Sky4:388Who Haunts the Haunter5:319Eyes of the Overworld1:4710Gravity3:4611Blade of Wind5:4212Through the Sunlit Door3:49. The second single, "Into the Godless Void×Into the Godless Void6 December 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Into the Godless Void3:58", was released on December 6, 2019.
In 2022 the band's latest album, XI: Bleed Here Now×XI: Bleed Here Now15 July 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Our Epic Attempts2:492Long Distance Hell1:273Field Song4:324Penny Candle3:275No Confidence5:156String Theme0:387Kill Everyone1:228Growing Divide3:239Pigments0:5210Golden Sail5:3111A Life Less Melancholy1:5012Taken by the Hand11:1213Contra Mundum5:1614Darkness Into Light1:2915Water Tower5:0616Sounds of Horror0:5617Protest Streets6:0918The Widening of Gyre1:1819Millenium Actress4:2320Salt in Your Eyes2:2821English Magic2:5722Calm as the Valley2:23 was released with quadraphonic mixing. After the band posted "Trail closed" on Instagram there were suspicions it might disband. The band still exists, although Keely stated that among various other issues, due to the hostile state of the music industry towards smaller bands, they could no longer afford to tour and that he had no desire to do it again. Despite this announcement, the band will be touring Australia in December 2025.

Musical style and influences

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead have cited numerous bands and artists as influences, including Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield, Unwound, Karp, Sonic Youth, Pink Floyd, the Who, and Genesis.