Hand of God album art

Hand of God

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis
Carnage (2021)
Moderate 85 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmoderate
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Stylespoken word
Notes: Begins with quiet spoken-word ponderings and subtle piano/strings, building to swelling strings, heady rhythm, and falsetto backing vocals for an emotional arc from gentle to intense.[1]

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A reflective track opening the Carnage album, exploring spiritual searching and unity amid loneliness and turmoil with spoken verses building to rhythmic, choral-like intensity.[1][4]

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: contemplative, transcendent

Traditions: alternative rock

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: present. This song uses surprise as a feature. For focus or background listening, it's likely to pull your attention away; for active listening, that's often the point.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: spoken word.

Where this sits in Nick Cave & Warren Ellis's catalog

We have 5 songs from Nick Cave & Warren Ellis in the library. Of those, 1 are rated Safe, 3 Moderate, and 1 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.6, making it the #4 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Carnage

We have 5 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2021 context

Released in 2021. We have 405 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.2/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2020s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
contemplative · 3297transcendent · 815
Traditions
alternative rock · 991

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "Hand of God"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Hand of God" by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis?

"Hand of God" by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, moderate sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "Hand of God" — what is its dynamic range?

"Hand of God" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "Hand of God" have sudden or surprising changes?

Yes. "Hand of God" uses surprise as a compositional feature. Expect unsignaled transitions.

What is "Hand of God" best for?

In our library "Hand of God" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Hand of God" released?

"Hand of God" is from 2021, on the album "Carnage". It appears in our 2020s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Hand of God"?

We tag "Hand of God" as contemplative, transcendent. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Hand of God"?

The vocal style is spoken word.

Should I listen to "Hand of God"?

"Hand of God" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Perpetual Change
Yes
intense
DR 8
Needles in the Camel's Eye
Brian Eno
moderate
DR 6
Cassidy
Grateful Dead
moderate
DR 6
The Great Below
Nine Inch Nails
intense
DR 8
Before the Water Gets Too High
Parquet Courts
moderate
DR 6
Mazurka in A Minor
Frédéric Chopin
moderate
DR 7

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Sæglópur
Sigur Rós safe
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Gil Scott-Heron safe
I Giorni
Ludovico Einaudi safe
Turning
Alex de Grassi safe
Stardust
Louis Armstrong safe

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