The second and last formal studio album by Joy Division, Closer may have slightly less of a visual subcultural impact compared to the iconic cover design of Unknown Pleasures, but musically it found the band taking on new strengths and approaches more than ever. From the rumbling Can-like groove of “Atrocity Exhibition” to the solemn piano-led ballad “The Eternal” and the stark, slow descent of “Decades,” the quartet translated its earlier intensity into a mysterious, murky realm, Ian Curtis’s compelling vocals and lyrics remaining a key constant.

– Ned Raggett