{"id":99369,"date":"2019-08-05T13:00:04","date_gmt":"2019-08-05T17:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/?p=99369"},"modified":"2019-08-06T12:43:47","modified_gmt":"2019-08-06T16:43:47","slug":"album-review-russian-circles-blood-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/album-review-russian-circles-blood-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: Russian Circles \u2013 Blood Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest offering from Chicago-based instrumental trio Russian Circles,<\/strong> titled Blood Year<\/em>, features seven tracks that build up to a hard punch, pull back, and then hit even harder.<\/p>\n

From the opening soundscapes of “Hunter Moon” and into the beginning of “Arluck,” the band finds its way into organized dissonance and layered atmospheres common among post-rock outfits that eschew lyrics to focus on building a palpable mood and ambiance.  Guitarist Mike Sullivan<\/strong> carries the bulk of these duties, tapping and picking reverb-laden leads that loop and intertwine over the rock-solid foundation laid down by bassist Brian Cook and drummer Dave Turncrantz.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But what keeps Russian Circles from remaining in the well-charted territory of post-rock is their embrace of metal as a guiding influence.  When the clambering bass lines and drums lock in with the chugging guitar riffs, the group reaches its high water mark \u2013 the three members working as a single unit in a pummeling aural assault you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.<\/p>\n

So goes the formula Russian Circles implements, serving as the key factor in their sonic experiments in dynamics and atmosphere, taking listeners from soothing to bombastic in a matter of minutes.  <\/p>\n

The tracks “Milano” and “Kohokia” display these qualities even more before leading into the two-and-a-half-minute respite “Ghost On High” (that still manages to work in unnerving distortion towards the end).  From here, the listener is dropped into the penultimate track, “Sinaia,” that serves as a return to the album\u2019s overarching musical form.<\/p>\n

All of this comes to a climax in the album closer, “Quartered.”  With all aspects of the bands sound on full display and cranked to ten, the track is the highlight of the album, serving as a perfect summary and denouement of all that precedes it.  On an album where the band quite often shines, this is where it is the brightest.<\/p>\n

Blood Year was released on Friday, August 2nd, 2019.  Russian Circles will be at Union Stage<\/strong> in Washington, DC on October 29, 2019, and The Broadberry<\/strong> in Richmond, VA on October 30, 2019. Both nights feature doom metal favorites Windhand<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Russian<\/span><\/p>\n

Russian Circles<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blood Year<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Released:<\/strong> August 2, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Track Listing:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Hunter Moon2. Arluck3. Milano4. Kohokia5. Ghost on High6. Sinaia 7. Quartered<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Performance Details<\/strong><\/p>\n

Performance Details<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Performance<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Details<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, October 29, 2019<\/p>\n

Doors: 7:00 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Show: 8:00<\/strong> PM<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

** ALL AGES SHOW **<\/p>\n

Union Stage (https:\/\/www.unionstage.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

740 Water Street SW<\/p>\n

Washington DC 20024 (Google Maps Link<\/a>)<\/p>\n

740 Water Street SWWashington, DC 20024<\/a><\/p>\n

$21<\/strong>  – General Admission<\/p>\n

$<\/strong>40<\/strong>  – VIP (Premier Plus)<\/p>\n

Venue Review: <\/strong>Learn more about Union Stage, parking, food <\/strong>recommendations, and more.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, October 30, 2019<\/p>\n

Doors: 7<\/strong>:00 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Show: 8:00 <\/strong>PM<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

The Broadberry <\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.thebroadberry.com<\/a><\/p>\n

2729 W Broad StRichmond, VA 23220<\/p>\n

(Google Maps Link<\/a>)<\/p>\n

2729 W Broad StRichmond, VA 23220<\/a> (804) 353-1888<\/a><\/p>\n

$18<\/strong>  – In Advance<\/p>\n

$20<\/strong>  – At Door<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Additional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To learn more about Russian Circles please use these web resources:<\/p>\n