PHARAOH OVERLORD

CIRCLE are a Finnish band that I've enjoyed over the years, I'd especially recommend "Prospekt" from 2000 and "Guillotine from 2003. Anyway this latest album is without question my favourite release by them. Now I'm not trying to be confusing but there is a companion album to CIRCLE's "Pharoah Overlord" record by a band called PHAROAH OVERLORD and it's called "Circle". They were released at the same time and it has to be known that a few members of CIRCLE are in PHAROAH OVERLORD which is like their Stoner Rock side project. This is different from not only anything I've heard by CIRCLE but really it's different from anything I've heard. I love Guldbamsen's description of the music on here as having those Navajo rhythms. And it was he who brought this album to my attention so thanks David! The music here has this melancholic and repetitive groove to it with chanting and mostly bass horns honking. It really sounds incredible as each song is connected by my description, then picture this leather wearing frontman who's into JUDAS PRIEST as he screams and yells several times which just adds to the enjoyment for me.

"Kostto" is laid back and melancholic as the guitar is picked while vocal melodies sing over top. This continues until before 2 1/2 minutes when the horn, bass and drums join in. Man this fuller sound makes this even more satisfying. A scream before 5 minutes. I like the way they'll add or subtract from the groove here as it plays out. "Kavelen Luiden Paalla" opens with drums as the horn starts to honk and distorted guitar joins in. Some yells 3 1/2 minutes in and this will continue for some time including some extreme vocal expressions. The bass arrives 6 minutes in and it's very upfront leading the way.

"Aavasaksa" has a catchy rhythm of guitars, bass and drums. Vocal melodies will come and go then it's the horn joining in. More vocal melodies before 3 minutes. "Aldebaran" opens with chanting, percussion, horn and bass then the vocal melodies start to come and go. Again it's quite melancholic here. "Madonna Of Viggiano" opens with horns, bass and drums as fuzzed out guitar joins in then actual lyrics instead of vocal melodies(chanting). Man, so much going on here with all these sounds. Great track!

One of my favourites from 2015 no doubt and my favourite from CIRCLE. I believe this is studio album number 27 for the boys so there's lots to check out with this band. 4.5 stars rounded up for the innovation that's on display in spades.