- Release date:
- May 6, 2008
- Artist/Band name:
- Russian Circles
- Record label:
- Suicide Squeeze
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.russiancircles.net/
- Overall User Rating:
-
(0 ratings)
Why you should care: On “Enter,” Russian Circles sounded like an immediate contender for becoming one of the heroes in the abused genre of “post-rock,” a tag that’s an occasional refuge for bands that don’t know what to do with their meandering material and can’t find a passable singer. “Station” shows the band’s chops and confidence growing; the album’s ebb and flow sweeps listeners between bruising metal and thoughtful, almost ambient guitar-and-drum interplay.
Verdict: “Station” crystallizes with the rip-roaring combo of “Harper Lewis” and the album’s title track, which represents their best work yet. Air guitarists and air drummers will get a workout, to be sure. But Russian Circles aren’t a one-trick post-rock pony; on “Verses” and “Xavii” they show an increased desire to linger in the softer moments. They still set themselves adrift occasionally, but guitarist Mike Sullivan and drummer Dave Turncrantz have developed a riveting rapport, and Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis) provides a big step up in the production department.
X-Factor: The Circle is currently not complete, as the band is without a full-time bassist. In the meantime, These Arms Are Snakes bassist Brian Cook, who played on “Station,” has been filling in on the road.
