Russian Circles – Blood Year (Review)

Russian Circles are an instrumental post-rock/metal band from the US. This is their seventh album.

2016’s Guidance was another sterling addition to Russian Circles’ quality discography, and Blood Year continues this trend with 40 minutes of new material.

Although generally at this point you know what you’re getting with a new Russian Circles album, (which is no bad thing, of course), Blood Year boasts some of Russian Circles’ most direct material in many ways. There’s an elevated sense of energy here which can be felt in some of the riffs and drums, as well as the increasingly infectious bass.

This is still nuanced and textured work, however, and the band’s sense of dynamics and atmosphere are intact and well. These songs flow well and power themselves through the playing time with rumbling threat and effortless grace. As well-written as they always are, these songs are easy to fall into and get swept away by, whether this is the violence of a storm, or the cool breeze of a warm, uplifting wind.

Blood Year is another strong release for Russian Circles. Highly recommended.