Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 8.5
Production: 9.0
Originality: 8.5
Tracklisting
2. Harper Lewis
3. Station
4. Verses
5. Youngblood
6. Xavii
Russian Circles come into the musical arena already battling preconceived notions such as “all instrumental bands sound the same” or “they don’t have a singer because they’re not good enough.” Although I must admit that I do not find all instrumental music equally entertaining, the entire genre is not entirely useless. This type of music hasn’t, and may never, reach the main stream but it does carry some unique qualities that I feel more people should explore.
As the first sounds of Station begin to filter into my headphones, I imagine an army planning its “Campaign” before finally beginning their slow charge over the hill with the sun at their backs. The drums are softly laid in the background as strings begin to dance around the bass. For a moment I forget I’m listening to Russian Circles as Sigur Ros comes more to mind than a heavy instrumental rock band. The music quickly fades back into the rock genre before the steady but heavy drums of Dave Turncrantz take the lead issuing in “Harper Lewis.” Slipping in the back door right behind him is the bass of hired gun Brian Cook (of These Arms Are Snakes). Keeping the slow and steady soundtrack of an army trudging through the mud before Mike Sullivan’s chugging guitar comes roaring in and begins to lead his army of instruments into a cacophonous rage. The battle settles down but the swirling guitars keep on going. Finally Turncrantz settles the swelled egos with the gentle tapping of cymbals as the band walks into “Station.” Sullivan chimes in with a steady strum of the guitar and beat of the bass before crashing into the albums most epic encounter yet also showcasing some of the band’s heaviest material to date. What I find most similar to a battle is that the timing of the tracks progressively get longer and then recede in the same fashion.
“Versus” is contrary to its name as it calls for a momentary ceasefire from the frenzied battling found. The illusions to Sigur Ros come back stronger than ever here as the band sounds more like orchestral rock than instrumental. “Youngblood” is aptly titled acting as a younger counterpart to “Harper Lewis” but none the less a new creation all its own. “Xavii” finally chimes in as the battle ends. The song culls to an end... but wait, as if one last gasp of its fallen enemy, the song carries on for one more short burst before its final breath.
Fans of their previous album Enter will not find as many loud moments on this album but what initially turned me off to this album is what also kept bringing me back. The slow brooding moments only help to accentuate what has become some of the band’s heaviest music yet. Each song works as its own piece but also aids the one preceding and succeeding itself as well. So you may ask: who is the band’s enemy they continue to battle on Station? It’s music’s need for a formulaic sound. With this release though, the band has equipped themselves for the fight and with the right push, they could easily take on the world... the musical world that is.