Home > Chicago Music > CD Review > Russian Circles, 'Station'

Backstory: Russian Circles formed in 2004 and, after a period of experimentation, decided on pursuing a heavy brand of instrumental rock in the vein of Pelican. They self-released an EP, then put out a promising full-length debut, “Enter.” They’ve since opened for the likes of Tool, Mono and the Appleseed Cast.

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.

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