Russian Circles

Russian Circles – Gnosis (2022) | Silver Vinyl
Yet more new music, which I suppose is better than spending money on voodoo fuses and cryo-treated underpants.
Gnosis is Russian Circles. The Chicago trio have been doing this since 2004, three guys, no vocals to get in the way of the cool music, just guitar, bass and drums played with more intention than most bands manage with twice the members. Eight albums in and they’re still finding new ways to make you feel like the sky is falling. This one is much heavier post-metal than anything before it.
“Tupilak” opens up with bass first, then the drums lock in, and by the time the guitar arrives you’re already sucked in. My favourite track is “Vlastimil” though. It’s the heaviest thing on the record. The closer “Bloom” is the one on the album that gives a bit of space.
All the songs are so carefully layered and developed, it’s excellent dense music.
The silver vinyl is really cool and suits the music, looks exactly right for this record. The pressing sounds great too, Ballou’s production is immaculate and the low end hits the way it should.

Russian Circles – Guidance (2016) | Cassette
I picked up Guidance on cassette on a whim. It was available on the site, cheap, and tape is just cool
People call this their heaviest record and it probably was at the time. After spending time with Gnosis I’m not so sure. There’s more space on this one, more room between the heavy parts, the quiet bits actually breathe a bit more. It’s less about riff density and more about texture and where things are heading.

Vorel and Calla are slower and more atmospheric, Mota and Dias are definitely heavier, and remind you it’s still a heavy record. The rhythm section carries a lot of the weight, bass low and deliberate, drums tight without feeling mechanical. The production is nice, and gets through the density of the music really well. The cassette suits it, not just as a gimmick. A great record, just not relentless in the same way as Gnosis I think.