ENTER

I by no means assumed an opening band to take me away in their music the way Russian Circles did. I did not even expect a sound like theirs at the show with Lords and Daughters playing, who would have thought. Even my little sXe and scene hardcore friends were clamoring over how good this band was. Well, for those of you who haven’t heard them I can basically portray Russian Circles as Explosions in the Sky or This Will Destroy You or even This is Your Captain Speaking, but with more…edge. That seems suitable.

I was actually just inside getting some water since I had figured it would be some atrocious tag along hardcore band but I noticed the stage, dark but pierced by the rays of an illuminating red light. Russian Circles just walked onto the stage singled out their instruments and began playing away, soft and barley able to be heard and revolving it into a full on instrumental breakdown. I even forgot about my water and went to watch them perform their set (don’t worry; she gave it back to me afterwards). To make things shorter and to get on with the review, the show was amazing and I would highly urge anyone to stop by their local venue if you spot them on the list.

To be stereotypical, I would simply categorize this as instrumental rock. Russian Circles makes it hard to just slap that on though since they fluently seam together rock, metal and “sludge.” They have been that one band, that fresh revival, that new heartbeat that renews a genre, the rejuvenation of the instrumental genre. Russian Circles went out of the typical sound while maintaining that classic instrumental touch: slow and lingering and hard and riveting but in all the right places.

Enter is their new 6-track forty-four minute release on Flameshovel records, which is basically compiled out of their self-released 4 song track but with 2 new tracks and some added outros which makes the album run together astoundingly well.

One of their most talked about songs “Death Rides a Horse” is just straight up metal rock. It doesn’t even build into anything, it actually starts out hard builds out and then back into that head banging style that was previously heard in the song. This song was skillfully put together that let’s each band member shine for a while on their instrument before throwing all the instruments into one hefty exhilarating breakdown.

Enter is all together an awe-inspiring amalgamation of genres that they have brought to create this noteworthy album that I would consider to be one of the best if not the best album I have heard so far this year and this all from their debut album. Russian Circles have fashioned the album that other bands pine for and I can only wait to hear even a peep of where they take their sound on their next release. They are truly creditable of all the praise they have received over this year and I would advise you pick up their album “Enter” but demand that you at least see them live.