

It can be hard to describe, thus my interest in what causes it. For myself I’ve somewhat narrowed it down to generally somber and emotionally-charged moments.
The vocal/scream breakdown in the middle, though I think it’s important how the whole song sets the stage for it:
The whole thing, but especially the higher notes sung:
The guitar lead starting at 1:15 & 2:05 and how it synergizes with the bass line, especially on the third and fourth measure of its melody:
Explosions in the Sky - Greet Death
It can happen in songs with different moods though it’s more rare, and I kind of think those moments still share some qualities in common with the examples above.






Close your eyes and think about the caboose