Russian Circles – Nine (Vinyl)

Chicago-bred post metal trio Russian Circles new album Nine continues their unhurriedevolution and disciplined refinement, leaning into their strengths while pushing at theboundaries of their sound. This is a band with no hit songs. No fan consensus on theirbest album. Just a reputation of consistency and quality that built one of the biggestheavy instrumental rock bands in the world. While they insist that their music is aconfluence of broad-ranging influences, it’s fair to say that Russian Circles’ adventurousdiversity has developed into a distinct and singular sound.Although Russian Circles is now spread across the country – guitarist Mike Sullivan inLos Angeles, drummer Dave Turncrantz based in Chicago, and bassist/keyboardistBrian Cook living in Vashon Island, outside of Seattle – the band triangulate theirrelative positions for Nine. Its seven seismic tracks act as long-form orientedsoundtracks to the trials and tragedies of life in the modern age. “The music we make isa collective process of reconciliation, navigation, and reflection upon aging both asindividuals and as a creative entity. Life has created very real distances between us, butthe band continues to be at the center, and this creative collaboration is a way ofcharting the passage of time while also giving us a reason to look to the future,” theband elaborates. Whereas earlier albums were almost playful in their traversing ofterritories, Nine is a document of a band that knows the lay of the land and is fortifyingtheir dominion over the varied terrain.Tracklist:1. Borehole2. Empath3. Eluvial4. E25. Meridian6. Arletta7. Seventh Seal