Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 05/08/2016
Label: Sargent House
“Asa”
provides a gentle start to the LP. The calm is soon destroyed when “Vorel”
lumbers into view. A leviathan of rumbling drums, gritty bass and insistent,
buzzing guitar lines, the track sets the tone for things to come, and along
with “Mota” and “Afrika” it demonstrates an irresistible blend of intricate
post rock with subtle hints of black metal. “Calla” provides the album’s heaviest cut,
whilst “Overboard” and “Lisboa” are the closest the band come to traditional
post-rock but both tracks demonstrate how to avoid the pitfalls of the genre
with style. “Guidance” is a stellar
release from Russian Circles. The band breathe new life into an often dull and
played-out genre with dazzling results
‘Guidance’ CD//DD//LP
track listing:
1).
Asa
2). Vorel
3). Mota
4). Afrika
5). Overboard
6). Calla
7). Lisboa
2). Vorel
3). Mota
4). Afrika
5). Overboard
6). Calla
7). Lisboa
The Review:
I
owe Russian
Circles a big apology. Many years ago I saw them play a couple of
times on bills with High On Fire and Earthless. At the time I
dismissed them as boring, generic post rock unworthy of sharing the stage with
such mighty riff warriors. One listen to the Chicago
The
sleepy drum less haze of “Asa”
provides a gentle start to the LP. The calm is soon destroyed when “Vorel” lumbers into view. A leviathan
of rumbling drums, gritty bass and insistent, buzzing guitar lines, the track
sets the tone for things to come. Along with “Mota” and “Afrika” it
demonstrates an irresistible blend of intricate post rock with subtle hints of
black metal. The effect is similar to what Latitudes achieved on their awesome “Old Sunlight” album earlier this year
but stamped with Russian Circle
“Calla” provides the album’s heaviest
cut and brings some no-nonsense heavy riffs to the table. This track best
demonstrates the band’s serious low-end crunch bought by Brian Cook. His
four-string Midas touch is in full effect here, bringing a crushing density
redolent of his work in Botch and Sumac.
“Overboard”
and “Lisboa”
are the closest the band come to traditional post-rock but both tracks
demonstrate how to avoid the pitfalls of the genre with style. The former is an
affecting, dreamy soundscape, all the more effective for its restraint and lack
of distortion. The latter features quiet/loud dynamics and soaring delayed
guitars but both elements are employed in such a way to make them sound vital
instead of stale and predictable.
“Guidance” is a stellar release from Russian Circles.
The band breathe new life into an often dull and played-out genre with dazzling
results. Being proved wrong has never sounded so good.
‘Guidance’ is available here
