Shattered Ground album art

Shattered Ground

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

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Nick Cave's emotionally intense vocals layer over atmospheric production with building dynamics. The song features repetitive vocal phrases that create hypnotic tension without jarring transitions.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsmild
Repetitive Micro-soundspresent

An introspective ballad exploring emotional dissolution and romantic despair through poetic metaphor of the moon as a departing lover.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: cathartic, contemplative, emotional, introspective, melancholy

Traditions: alternative rock, art rock, dark wave

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: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

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: dynamic vocals.

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 #3 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
cathartic · 1429contemplative · 3297emotional · 2189introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399
Traditions
alternative rock · 991art rock · 243dark wave · 3

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 "Shattered Ground"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Shattered Ground" by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis?

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

How loud is "Shattered Ground" — what is its dynamic range?

"Shattered Ground" 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 "Shattered Ground" have sudden or surprising changes?

"Shattered Ground" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "Shattered Ground" best for?

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

When was "Shattered Ground" released?

"Shattered Ground" is from 2021, on the album "Carnage". It appears in our 2020s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Shattered Ground"?

We tag "Shattered Ground" as cathartic, contemplative, emotional, introspective, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Shattered Ground"?

The vocal style is dynamic vocals.

Should I listen to "Shattered Ground"?

"Shattered Ground" 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.

Up on Cripple Creek
The Band
moderate
DR 6
Touchy!
a-ha
moderate
DR 7
You Only Live Once
The Strokes
moderate
DR 7
Marker in the Sand
Pearl Jam
moderate
DR 7
Brick House
The Commodores
moderate
DR 6
Let Go
Sharon Van Etten
moderate
DR 7

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

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

If I Were a Boy
Beyoncé safe
That's the Way
Led Zeppelin safe
Water Shows the Hidden Heart
Enya safe
Changes
Black Sabbath safe
Which Will
Nick Drake safe

What this song means to people

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