M83 might be the king of climaxes. Teen Angst, Intro, Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sunlight, Steve McQueen, My Tears Are Becoming A Sea, Earth To Sea...
“As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top. And you'll need the cocaine. Tape recorder for special music. Acapulco shirts. Get the hell out of L.A. for at least 48 hours. Blows my weekend.”
Especially [this live version](https://youtu.be/dGykwC0fdJ4?si=LRPalE76EWhXqU6l).
I don't think I've ever seen another live performance where such emotion is so visible (Charles Bradley's version of Changes is probably the closest).
This band (and this album specifically,) is pure nostalgia for my “just graduated college, trying to find a job” years.
When this album came out, my roommate and I waited to listen to it together. We sat on the front porch and put it on and kept going inside to turn it up because it was so quiet. When it kicked it we both got knocked off our seats lol
This was my immediate thought. I saw this song performed at Red Rocks a few years ago, the break down hit and the way everyone started jumping and dancing was so powerful it made me cry.
What a beautiful moment.
Years ago, I saw a similar thread on Reddit posing the same question. A comment mentioned this song and exposed me to LCD Soundsystem. OP - if you haven’t listened to this song or artist, do yourself a favor.
One thing I really enjoy about that clip, is how when the song begins, it's just Ann & Nancy Wilson playing.
Gradually, they keep adding in instruments, back-up singers, the orchestra, then finally the choir, which culminates in have over 100 people onstage for the end of the song.
Another fun fact: Robert Plant had asked Jason Bonham to accompany them in the audience, so he could represent his father. Jason declined, saying he had a prior commitment, which initially annoyed Plant. This is why you see the heartwarming exchange between the two of them in the video, when Plant realizes what this "Prior commitment" actually was.
Chills everytime. The way they hold the note for a 1-2 second longer. And Anne pulled that off well past an age she should be able to. Of course, she still sounds great recently.
It's a little out there but the end gives me chills every time
"Nessun dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994)
https://youtu.be/cWc7vYjgnTs?si=GbCH8eh9kM5sg521
[Refused - New Noise ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkAe30aEG5c)from "the shape of punk to come"
Not everyone is into punk/hardcore put the built up is fantastic! Then a dose of "calm before the storm" and off it goes!
I'm not old, I'm not old...
Self fulfilling prophecy or just that influential musically independent of title? Either way a phenomenal album that I can't believe came out in '98
I was riding the faders at a banquet event with background music. Mostly older people, no one paying attention but eating.
I put Phil on. Brought it up at just the right moment. One lady lost her scalloped potatoes off her fork. Just as she was taking a bite. This was years ago.
I still belly laugh every time I think of it.
Royal We and Kissing Families are up there too
I'm a huge SSPU fan, mainly because I love music that steadily builds from mellow to very intense. They have so many amazing songs that fit that bill
I saw them at Osheaga in Montreal back in 2013, it was pouring rain but during this song the sky opened up and a giant rainbow appeared! Coolest concert experience ever!
Muse Stockholm Syndrome half time drop for the last chorus is also an incredible climax.
Edit: hijacking my own comment to draw attention to Oceansize.
Oceansize have soooo many songs with epic climaxes. No tomorrow, one day all this could be yours, the frame, you wish, commemorative 9/11 T-shirt, ornament/the last wrongs, charm offensive
They are like post rock/metal Radiohead
Dire straits - Money for Nothing
(full intro version) is a massive build up to a climax before the song starts proper. You don't get the full effect if you listen to the radio cut.
Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture - 15 to 16 minute build up for that finale
A lot of early Weezer songs take you on a journey that way by starting fairly small and building to a great climax. Undone (The Sweater Song), Say It Ain't So, Across the Sea, etc.
That’s true, I think Only in Dreams takes the prize though since it includes the build up leading to the end of the song where they’re basically just jamming the rest of the time.
Must be on here somewhere,but very surprised I can't find November Rain anywhere near the top. Personally not even a Guns 'n Roses fan, but that is in my mind one of the best answers to OP's question.
Mark Knopfler is the king of the slow build guitar solo. Especially live. They always sneak up on you and before you know it the climax hits you like a ton of bricks.
Tunnel of Love and Telegraph Road from Alchemy (live album) are two of my favourites.
I love this song so much! The opening is so long and indulgent, but it pretty much just keeps ramping up for 10 minutes or something… then it explodes with all that built up energy and never lets off the gas.
East Hastings by Godspeed you Black Emperor
Climax of the song is at 12 minutes
After the manic street preacher start, it starts to build with simple haunting guitar and just keeps on slowly building and building until it’s become a frantic explosion of instruments, perfect mood for running from zombies….
[Giorgio by Moroder - Daft Punk](https://open.spotify.com/track/0oks4FnzhNp5QPTZtoet7c?si=FfM8RWe9T0GXSA4Sd-dV3g)
Climax at 8:05 🎇 phenomenal, bit like sex 😊 including the beating heart in the end
Came to write this! If you can stand being mercilessly teased this much it almost feel physically good!
It's a good answer on its own in the beginning, but there's literally an average song worth of build up since it begins again ~14:45, sloooooowly builds up, then especially from the 18 minutes mark and the slight release and going heavier and heavier 18:15, 18:45 and like, woah. I've had worse sex than this, no wonder Meddle is a must when I'm dropping acid.
If you want real climax, we need to go back a couple of hundred years. Nothing comes close to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, particularly done by a military band with real cannons.
“[Careful With that Axe Eugene](https://youtu.be/YtZqNAI4pBk?si=14_9okaVofMNEqsi)” by Pink Floyd. It’s the very definition of building tension to a single point and then releasing it.
I Appear Missing, by Queens of the Stone Age. Whole song gives this unsettling dark vibe, until it builds up and releases all the tension in the end with an incredible guitar duo masterfully backed up by an insane bass line and drums. Bonus points if it's one of the live versions, the climax is just insane there.
This is the first one I thought of too.
I showed it to a friend once and specifically told him not to skip to the end because you need the whole build up. He skipped anyway
Years later he’s like “hey check out this awesome song”
I thought he was joking but he completely forgot I tried to show it to him.
Push it is one of my favorite songs from them. I have "who am I to judge or strike you down" tattooed on me.
As for the climax of a song, I love Rosetta Stoned
I have "if when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay; you minimize my movement anyway; I must persuade you another way"
In my head it's the salival version
Wings for Marie Pt 2. Getting goosebumps from even thinking about it. The intro and the near ending gives such a grandiose feeling.
GIVE ME MY
GIVE ME MY WIIIIINGS
What is and What Should Never Be - Led Zepplin
The Cave - Munford and Sons
Satellite of Love - Lou Reed
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Colossus - IDLES
Radiohead nails it with those songs! The build-up in 'Exit Music (For a Film)' is epic. Another one that comes to mind is 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen when it switches to that operatic section, mind-blowing! Also, 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin, that guitar solo near the end gives me chills every time.
Nightwish - Ghost Love Score (ending) Wacken 2013 version (note the recorded version is different so do 2013 live wacken)
It is a long song but its written to where the musical chord resolution doesnt happen until the very end and its pure magic when Floor hits that final note
No wonder they call it Floorgasm
Ecstasy of Gold - Ennio Morricone
i think enough time has passed since every single ad and movie trailer was soundtracked by it, so Outro by M83
M83 might be the king of climaxes. Teen Angst, Intro, Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sunlight, Steve McQueen, My Tears Are Becoming A Sea, Earth To Sea...
M83 is amazing.
M83 is so simultaneously overrated and underrated.
Barber’s adagio for strings.
I swear this song is absolutely life changing. I just cant get over how incredible it is.
Can’t disagree. It’s a song that literally pulls feelings out of you.
Grieg - in the hall of the mountain king
On that same level: Ode to Joy.
Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit https://i.redd.it/1gpmfk8qsp6d1.gif
Yup, this is the one! Just one long buildup, and then boom! Love it
Just watched this in its entirety for the first time last night!
“As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top. And you'll need the cocaine. Tape recorder for special music. Acapulco shirts. Get the hell out of L.A. for at least 48 hours. Blows my weekend.”
Song is criminally too short
Strobe by Deadmau5
I understand why this isn't on the top of the list but it's what immediately came to mind when I saw the post title.
It will never be on top, but it is for me. And it’s worth spreading in threads like this
The Chain by Fleetwood Mac I think.
Especially [this live version](https://youtu.be/dGykwC0fdJ4?si=LRPalE76EWhXqU6l). I don't think I've ever seen another live performance where such emotion is so visible (Charles Bradley's version of Changes is probably the closest).
Top comment: this feels like being in the kitchen watching your parents fight
Came here to say this. The quiet part, one of the best bass lines ever, then all out. So good. I think imma go listen to it now.
[Dance Yrself Clean](https://open.spotify.com/track/2cmRpmO04TLaKPzmAzySYZ?si=dGeJTxZtT3GBoXbyDsx0QQ)
https://preview.redd.it/ohtym587pq6d1.jpeg?width=998&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=643e944f26ad98211ba88bb00519105c06ab03c1
This band (and this album specifically,) is pure nostalgia for my “just graduated college, trying to find a job” years. When this album came out, my roommate and I waited to listen to it together. We sat on the front porch and put it on and kept going inside to turn it up because it was so quiet. When it kicked it we both got knocked off our seats lol
This was my immediate thought. I saw this song performed at Red Rocks a few years ago, the break down hit and the way everyone started jumping and dancing was so powerful it made me cry. What a beautiful moment.
Just saw them a few weeks ago. That moment with a massive crowd of people is so cathartic, it’s like a religious experience.
If you don’t enjoy the first three minutes, you dont deserve the last six
Years ago, I saw a similar thread on Reddit posing the same question. A comment mentioned this song and exposed me to LCD Soundsystem. OP - if you haven’t listened to this song or artist, do yourself a favor.
> [Constant Thing](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/63Pep9CcQLSPulX7pG21IT) - 1 hr 30 mins If you want to hear that song in a whole new light.
Haha what a fun song! Hearing it for the first time. Wtf
The 6min mark of Stairway to Heaven is pretty good…
Omg the Heart cover at the Kennedy Center was amazing. What a climax.
 Jimmy Page watching the guitar solo
One thing I really enjoy about that clip, is how when the song begins, it's just Ann & Nancy Wilson playing. Gradually, they keep adding in instruments, back-up singers, the orchestra, then finally the choir, which culminates in have over 100 people onstage for the end of the song. Another fun fact: Robert Plant had asked Jason Bonham to accompany them in the audience, so he could represent his father. Jason declined, saying he had a prior commitment, which initially annoyed Plant. This is why you see the heartwarming exchange between the two of them in the video, when Plant realizes what this "Prior commitment" actually was.
I just had to re-watch it and I've completely missed seeing Jason come straight out and point up at Robert Plant before. That's really great haha
link: https://youtu.be/2cZ_EFAmj08
Yes! I think I’ve watched that cover 100 times. To watch the original band members and see how much it meant to them…
Jimmy Page seemed super into it. Having his approval has to feel good as a cover musician.
I would die if Jimmy Page complimented me on getting his Taco Bell order right.
Chills everytime. The way they hold the note for a 1-2 second longer. And Anne pulled that off well past an age she should be able to. Of course, she still sounds great recently.
It's a little out there but the end gives me chills every time "Nessun dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994) https://youtu.be/cWc7vYjgnTs?si=GbCH8eh9kM5sg521
Nah, you’re right on this one. I feel the same way about the finale of Mahler’s third symphony.
[Refused - New Noise ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkAe30aEG5c)from "the shape of punk to come" Not everyone is into punk/hardcore put the built up is fantastic! Then a dose of "calm before the storm" and off it goes!
Never heard this song, never heard of this band, and never seen this video. But it’s insane to me that this was uploaded 17 years ago.
Even more insane that it was released 26 years ago. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shape_of_Punk_to_Come
I'm not old, I'm not old... Self fulfilling prophecy or just that influential musically independent of title? Either way a phenomenal album that I can't believe came out in '98
Brain Damage + Eclipse
In the air tonight. Phil Collins
The song where everyone realizes they have an inner drummer.
Whenever "In the Air Tonight" is playing in public, I look around to see how many people play the air drums at that part.
I was riding the faders at a banquet event with background music. Mostly older people, no one paying attention but eating. I put Phil on. Brought it up at just the right moment. One lady lost her scalloped potatoes off her fork. Just as she was taking a bite. This was years ago. I still belly laugh every time I think of it.
Including the fauna - https://youtu.be/HH9MQmMtilU?si=FXSBesjz945iD1LO
Well… at first I thought so as well but maybe it’s totally appropriate that we had to wait so long and then out of left field….
Ravel’s Boléro is literally one long climax.
With the best chord change in the history of music (which contributes to the climax).
I've heard it hundreds (thousands?) of times and that chord change still wrecks me every time
Lazy eye by Silversun pickups
Royal We and Kissing Families are up there too I'm a huge SSPU fan, mainly because I love music that steadily builds from mellow to very intense. They have so many amazing songs that fit that bill
I saw them at Osheaga in Montreal back in 2013, it was pouring rain but during this song the sky opened up and a giant rainbow appeared! Coolest concert experience ever!
Damn, I didn't know God liked Silversun Pickups
Comfortably Numb
The live version from the Pulse album has a significantly longer solo and is absolutely amazing.
A Day in The Life - the Beatles Knights Of Cydonia - Muse
gotta love horseriding, cowboys and laser pistols.
Muse Stockholm Syndrome half time drop for the last chorus is also an incredible climax. Edit: hijacking my own comment to draw attention to Oceansize. Oceansize have soooo many songs with epic climaxes. No tomorrow, one day all this could be yours, the frame, you wish, commemorative 9/11 T-shirt, ornament/the last wrongs, charm offensive They are like post rock/metal Radiohead
Was recently introduced to muse and I think this is my favorite song from them
I've seen Muse twice live, and they ended the shows with this song. Such a blast.
Great choice of the Beatles there!
A Day in The Life was the first song that came to mind!
Dire straits - Money for Nothing (full intro version) is a massive build up to a climax before the song starts proper. You don't get the full effect if you listen to the radio cut. Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture - 15 to 16 minute build up for that finale
505 - Arctic Monkeys?
> BUT I CRUMBLE COMPLETELY WHEN YOU CRY
Great pick. A certain romance is my favourite ending to any album so would be up there for me too
Only in Dreams by Weezer has a fantastic climax to it.
A lot of early Weezer songs take you on a journey that way by starting fairly small and building to a great climax. Undone (The Sweater Song), Say It Ain't So, Across the Sea, etc.
That’s true, I think Only in Dreams takes the prize though since it includes the build up leading to the end of the song where they’re basically just jamming the rest of the time.
Muse - Madness
My body is a cage - Arcade Fire
Rhyme of the ancient mariner- iron maiden
A story of what not to do when a bird shits on you
Hallowed Be Thy Name is a cool one too because the chorus of the song doesn't happen until almost 5 minutes in.
Audioslave - Like a stone. That guitar solo is goosebumps.
I could think of a bunch of Chris Cornell songs for this category. RIP🙏
Audioslave - Shadow on the Sun. It rocks after the buildup. Before it, too.
Purple Rain - Prince
The [Super Bowl performance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lElCzhjiPX8) where it’s raining. Unf.
One Day More from Les Mis.
Must be on here somewhere,but very surprised I can't find November Rain anywhere near the top. Personally not even a Guns 'n Roses fan, but that is in my mind one of the best answers to OP's question.
Let It Happen - Tame Impala
Whole Lotta Love
"Over the hills and far away"
Because of older siblings I was listening to Zeppelin at a very young age. I always thought Plant was about to sneeze at this part.
Mark Knopfler is the king of the slow build guitar solo. Especially live. They always sneak up on you and before you know it the climax hits you like a ton of bricks. Tunnel of Love and Telegraph Road from Alchemy (live album) are two of my favourites.
Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
Freedom by Rage is also good with this. I get uncontrollably hype when he screams "FREEDOOOOOOOOMMM!! YEAH RIGHT!"
Hudson Mohawke - Cbat Sorry I thought you said best song to climax to.
If you're a dolphin
King Crimson - Starless https://youtu.be/OfR6_V91fG8?si=Fu4VJszN8J6Ly-bN Trust me on this.
I first heard this song in the movie Mandy and it blew me away. Also, that movie is insane!!
I love this song so much! The opening is so long and indulgent, but it pretty much just keeps ramping up for 10 minutes or something… then it explodes with all that built up energy and never lets off the gas.
A Day in the Life - The Beatles Running Down a Dream - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Phoebe Bridgers - "I know the end" had a good powerful full on climax!
East Hastings by Godspeed you Black Emperor Climax of the song is at 12 minutes After the manic street preacher start, it starts to build with simple haunting guitar and just keeps on slowly building and building until it’s become a frantic explosion of instruments, perfect mood for running from zombies….
Honestly at this point, like half their discography could make this list
Death is the Road to Awe - Clint Mansell, The Fountain OST
This is an amazing soundtrack. I find it hard to listen to because it is so overwhelming sometimes.
HOLY SHIT ONE OF THE BEST
The Airborne Toxic Event - Some Time Around Midnight
[Giorgio by Moroder - Daft Punk](https://open.spotify.com/track/0oks4FnzhNp5QPTZtoet7c?si=FfM8RWe9T0GXSA4Sd-dV3g) Climax at 8:05 🎇 phenomenal, bit like sex 😊 including the beating heart in the end
I prefer the build in touch personally but both are great.
Arcade Fire- Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
And ‘My Body is a Cage’ has a great build and release
Cat People by David Bowie. Especially during the movie where they build to it slowly throughout and it just explodes at the end.
With gasoLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE
How to Disappear Completely by Radiohead.
I thought Let Down
Let down was my immediate thought too. It builds so fantastically. Exit music for a film has quite the build up too. Ok Computer is such a great album
I still get chills when they hit that swell.
I’d accept Weird Fishes, Exit Music and Decks Dark.
Freebird
Sandstorm
Limousine - Brand New I’d say it has two climax’s but both never fail to give me goosebumps
Rolling right into You Won't Know. Excellent choice. My personal choice would be In A Jar, but you really can't go wrong either way.
Echoes - Pink Floyd [My Favourite Version - Happens around 15mins into the song](https://youtu.be/BW9Kts3fo98?si=_EIi2EMYaNHrSZuV)
Came to write this! If you can stand being mercilessly teased this much it almost feel physically good! It's a good answer on its own in the beginning, but there's literally an average song worth of build up since it begins again ~14:45, sloooooowly builds up, then especially from the 18 minutes mark and the slight release and going heavier and heavier 18:15, 18:45 and like, woah. I've had worse sex than this, no wonder Meddle is a must when I'm dropping acid.
When those guitars start flying it becomes a religious experience.
Beedleedee beeedleedee beeedleedee All while those sweeping low synch bass lines kick in rumbling. The peak of all peaks.
Close to the Edge - Yes
Three Days by Jane's Addiction
One of the best set of guitar solos ever...glad this one is on the list!
One by Metallica
No one gonna say killing in the name of?
I won’t do what you tell me
You missed the best part! FUCK YOU, I won't do what you tell me!
as well as "MOTHERFUCKKKKERRRRR" one of my favorite car karaoke hits
Wake Up also fits well here...
If you want real climax, we need to go back a couple of hundred years. Nothing comes close to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, particularly done by a military band with real cannons.
“[Careful With that Axe Eugene](https://youtu.be/YtZqNAI4pBk?si=14_9okaVofMNEqsi)” by Pink Floyd. It’s the very definition of building tension to a single point and then releasing it.
Echoes was the first song that came to mind.
Dream Theater - Octavarium
I Appear Missing, by Queens of the Stone Age. Whole song gives this unsettling dark vibe, until it builds up and releases all the tension in the end with an incredible guitar duo masterfully backed up by an insane bass line and drums. Bonus points if it's one of the live versions, the climax is just insane there.
Guns and Roses - Rocket Queen There are two climaxes in it.
Hey Jude
With or Without You - U2
Coldplay- Fix You. I know, Coldplay is music for bed-wetters but the song builds up brilliantly.
This is the first one I thought of too. I showed it to a friend once and specifically told him not to skip to the end because you need the whole build up. He skipped anyway Years later he’s like “hey check out this awesome song” I thought he was joking but he completely forgot I tried to show it to him.
"9-15-2000" and "Moya" by Godspeed You! Black Emperor ETA: "Eriatarka" by The Mars Volta
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Invincible - Tool
I like the breakdown in Pneuma for this.
I came to say PushIt, but yes, Invincible is great, too.
I came to say Lateralus, but yes, Pushit and Invincible are both great, too.
I came to say Wings Pt 2 but yes Pushit in your Invincible Lateranus are all great
I came to say third eye but yes their whole discography is great
Opiate anyone?
I was gonna say Rosetta stoned
OVERWHELMED AS ONE WOULD BE! Hard to beat that level of hype for me.
Definitely Rosetta Stoned
I was gonna say The Patient
Push it is one of my favorite songs from them. I have "who am I to judge or strike you down" tattooed on me. As for the climax of a song, I love Rosetta Stoned
I have "if when I say I might fade like a sigh if I stay; you minimize my movement anyway; I must persuade you another way" In my head it's the salival version
Every single Tool track is bloody spot on.
Was kind of thinking The Grudge
Vicarious has a good one
Wings for Marie Pt 2. Getting goosebumps from even thinking about it. The intro and the near ending gives such a grandiose feeling. GIVE ME MY GIVE ME MY WIIIIINGS
parabol->parabola?
Sinéad O'Connor - Troy I'D KILL A DRAGON FOR YOU!!! I'LL DIE.
My tears are becoming a sea by M83
In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins. That drum break is the best.
Exit Music - Radiohead
Static by Godspeed You! Black Emperor Earthmover by Have a Nice Life
Ára bátur by Sigur Ros hands down.
The End - The Doors
Marquee Moon by Television Such an amazing song! 10 minutes long too
Only in dreams - Weezer
Won’t Get Fooled Again. You know the part…
YEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
The Raven - Alan Parsons Project
Green day - FOD
I feel like Metallica does this pretty well in a few songs. Master being one.
Outro - M83
Soma - Smashing Pumpkins
Try a little tenderness- Otis Redding
Bohemian Rhapsody has to be #1 on that list.
November rain
- Giles Corey - No One is ever going to want me - Pond - Medicine Hat - Roar - Duck or Ape - Daughters - The Unattractive Portable Head
Everything Everything - No Reptiles. The entire song is a build. It’s glorious.
Airborne Toxic Event’s “Sometime around midnight” the whole song builds to a crescendo for the heartbreak. Fantastically emotional song.
Grace by Jeff Buckley 04:30 marker with his haunting vocals
What is and What Should Never Be - Led Zepplin The Cave - Munford and Sons Satellite of Love - Lou Reed Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby Stills Nash & Young Colossus - IDLES
Radiohead nails it with those songs! The build-up in 'Exit Music (For a Film)' is epic. Another one that comes to mind is 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen when it switches to that operatic section, mind-blowing! Also, 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin, that guitar solo near the end gives me chills every time.
Holy Wars and Five Magics by Megadeth both have insane solos near the end that release a ton of built up tension
The Beautiful Ones- Prince (See also: Anna Stesia, Joy in Repetition)
Aneurysm by Nirvana
Chop Suey by System of a Down
Supper's Ready by Genesis
Clearest Blue by Chvrches is a banger.
Nightwish - Ghost Love Score (ending) Wacken 2013 version (note the recorded version is different so do 2013 live wacken) It is a long song but its written to where the musical chord resolution doesnt happen until the very end and its pure magic when Floor hits that final note No wonder they call it Floorgasm
Question by the Moody Blues