Set and Setting

Set and Setting is an instrumental quintet from St. Petersburg, Florida, that occupies the intersection of post-rock, post-metal, and blackgaze.

Founded by Shane Handal, the band is most notable for its unconventional lineup featuring two drummers, which provides a massive, polyrhythmic backbone to their sound. Their aesthetic is defined by a 'wall of sound' approach, utilizing dense guitar layering and extreme dynamic shifts. Unlike many of their peers who lean into ambient drift, Set and Setting maintains a high-energy, rhythmic drive that borders on the intensity of metal while remaining strictly instrumental. Their career arc shows a progression from the more melodic, atmospheric explorations of 'Equanimity' (2013) toward the darker, more aggressive textures found on 'Tabula Rasa' (2018). Critically, they are praised for their ability to evoke narrative and emotional depth without lyrics, often compared to acts like Russian Circles or This Will Destroy You, but distinguished by their unique percussive density and Florida-bred sludge influences. They are a staple of the modern instrumental underground, bridging the gap between indie-rock sensitivity and extreme metal power.