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Circle - Tyrant CD (album) cover

TYRANT

Circle

 

Psychedelic/Space Rock

3.14 | 5 ratings

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chamberry
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars NWOFHM!

Yet another installment on Circle's NWOFHM sound. Unlike Tulikoira or Sunrise, this one has more to do with with Krautrock than with 80's heavy metal (even though this is still a heavy affair). Fans that didn't enjoyed Tulikoira or Sunrise because they didn't had that certain Circle sound on it will certainly be pleased with this one.

This album has a very doom-ish atmosphere surrounding it. It sounds sinister too, but has more to do with the mood of the album rather than an "in your face" style of playing. This can be heard right from the get go with "Screaming Luovutus", which it may well be Circle's heaviest most menacing song to date! It starts off like a typical song from these Finns with it's trance-inducing heavy space metal (?) melody until all of a sudden disturbing and wretched screams pierce your ears! This is certainly not a thing to listen to at night. It sounds like some demonic creatures all gathered around you screaming like crazy scarring the hell out of you. I don't know what a "Luovutus" is, but I certainly wouldn't like seeing one if this is what they sound like. After the screaming session is over the song starts playing faster almost like following your heart beat after the scary scenery you've endured.

The second song on the album "Steel Tormented Warrior" is less structured than the first one and sounds more experimental too. It isn't as metal as the first song, but the mood is certainly there. The "song" is made up of random drum beats, guitar sketches, waves of synth effects and weird vocals bringing images of (you guessed it) a "Steel Tormented Warrior". The last song on the album, "Amputation Crusade", takes the same doom-ish atmosphere of both songs with a more structured sound and Neu! style playing (if they ever played music as dark as this one). This song is also the softest of them all, but from what it lacks in power it makes up for a more drugged out sound. There are some strange mumbling and choking vocals in the background for extra creepiness (as if the previous songs on the album weren't enough...). I'll point out that this is also the laid-back song of the three since it doesn't have any Luovutus or Warriors screaming at you.

This certainly not an inviting album even by Circle's standards. Everything from the slow repetitive melodies, to the haunting atmosphere and the little experimentation here and there will put off most new comers. All the songs being around 15 minute each doesn't help either, but once you break the hard shell Tyrant will be a more rewarding experience.

chamberry | 3/5 |

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