February 2012
3 posts
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Russian Circles Announce Headlining Overseas...
Russian Circles will be headlining a six week long overseas tour in support of their latest critically praised release Empros out now on Sargent House. Direct support on all the shows except Moscow will be Deafheaven. Remember to always check with venues directly to confirm show times and age restrictions.
RUSSIAN CIRCLES & DEAFHEAVEN OVERSEAS TOUR 2012 Apr 05 - Prague, CZ @ Matrix Apr...
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Light & Noise Post 2 Live Videos from Fun Fun Fun...
Russian Circles live from the Black Stage at Fun Fun Fun Fest Auditorium Shores, Austin, TX on November 4, 2011.
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Alternative Matter Review: Russian Circles...
Chicago trio Russian Circles continue their steady ascent with their fourth album “Empros”. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed “Geneva” doesn’t stray far from their blueprint with opener “309″ barking into life revealing familiar refrains and stark, ominous echoes. With so many bands today overproducing the life out of every single note, this resonates with a rich tone that is...
January 2012
4 posts
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Ghettoblaster Feature: Russian Circles
Russian Circles featured in Issue #30 of Ghettoblaster Magazine -(Click on text to enlarge) to subscribe to GhettoBlaster or order any issue click here.
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Sound Fuse: Live Review Russian Circles - Lincoln...
Russian Circles are a band that I’ve been wanting to write about for a long time. In fact, they are one of the last shows I saw in 2009 before I started Chicago Jam Scene. Their show at Bottom Lounge was one of the last shows about which I said, “This is awesome. I should write about this,” and just started doing it. This band has consistently been in my rotation since I discovered them...
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MetaCritic Compiles the 25 Best Reviewed Albums of...
Metacritic Top 25 Highest-Reviewed Albums of 2011 is a rundown of the best albums of the past year as determined by their Metascores — an average of all reviews given by professional critics at the time of each album’s original release. Note that live albums, reissues, compilations, and the like are excluded from this chart. - Click to See Top 25
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Dallas Observer: This Weeks Obsession
As I was standing in the photo pit of the Murder City Devils’ stage the Friday evening of Fun Fun Fun Fest, a band started playing on the other side of the large, divided stage. I couldn’t see them, as I was 40 yards to the band’s right, literally with my elbows on the unused stage but, boy howdy, could I ever hear the act kicking things off.
Who was the band that blew me...
December 2011
10 posts
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Brian Cook Gives Seattle Rock Guy His List of Top...
Ten albums I really liked in 2011, in no particular order. Death Grips - Exmilitary Helms Alee - Weatherhead Christina Vantzou - No. 1 Steve Hauschildt - Tragedy & Geometry Adebisi Shank - This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called… Rotten Sound - Cursed And So I Watch You From Afar - Gangs Bloodiest - Descent Moholy - Nagy – Like Mirage Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death - Some Of Us...
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Alarm Magazine Names Their Top 50 Albums
Russian Circles: Empros (Sargent House, 10/25/11
<a href=”http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/track/mladek” _mce_href=”http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/track/mladek”>Mladek by Russian...
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Pitchfork's Guest List: Our Favorite Albums of...
Russian Circles contribute their list of Albums to check out from 2011 for Pitchfork’s end of the Year Guest list.
Craft: VOID Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for this album to finally come out? They’ve been posting teasers about it for a couple of years now—a studio update here, a snippet of a song there. And as with most elusive underground black metal,...
Guitar World Names Its Top 50 Albums of 2011...
29. Russian Circles - Empros Released: October 25, 2011 (Sargent House)
Click to See Full Top 50 List
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Thanks Iann Robinson for Including Empros in Top...
01. Russian Circles /Album: Empros Label: Sargent House
Why I Chose This: In reality Russian Circles and Tom Waits have tied for first. I place this instrumental album ahead of Waits simply because he’s a fucking legend and these guys aren’t…..yet. Russian Circles have completely outdone themselves with Empros. They have made a perfect record, an album so flawless that every time I listen...
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NEW YEARS EVE 2011 - Austin, TX at Red 7
Russian Circles will be playing this New Years Eve in Austin, TX at Red 7. Get tickets here.
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Guitar Player Magazine - December 2011 Issue...
Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles is featured in a 5 page story in this months December 2011 issue of Guitar Player.
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Schiphol Video by Charles Cors
Thanks for the video, sent to us by Charles Cors - the track is Schiphol from the album Empros.
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AV Club Live Review: Russian Circles in Milwaukee
On one hand, it was almost ridiculous having Russian Circles play the Cactus Club Friday night—the room was jam-packed an hour before sound check, presumably due to glowing reviews of the band’s latest (and best) album, Empros, and a reputation for impressive live shows. On the other hand, the show was probably booked well in advance of the unprecedented publicity, and Russian Circles have...
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Rock A Rolla Featured Interview w/ Brian Cook of...
Russian Circles feature interview in Rock A Rolla Magazine Issue #34. (click images to enlarge)
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Guitar World Interview with Mike Sullivan - Track...
“Once it gets too fancy, I started losing the groove,” says guitarist Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles’ deceptively dense music.
Indeed the Chicago-based post-rock band are capable of creating intricately layered pieces of music, often from simple, intertwining melodies that when combined are capable of creating harsh soundscapes, vast acoustic caverns and everything in...
November 2011
14 posts
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Please Support Heather Duby - November 26th
NOVEMBER 26TH Damn conflicting schedules. Our tours generally get booked about 4 months in advance, and after all that planning and coordinating sometimes it just so happens that we’re up against another amazing show going on that night. Case in point, our Seattle show at Neumo’s on November 26th coincides with a very important event across town at the Crocodile Cafe. Our friends in Helms...
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Drowned In Sound (UK) Reviews Russian Circles...
They seem to have a passion for Europe, these Russian Circles. Their last album, 2009’s Geneva, while undeniably accomplished, was named after only the second-most-populous city in Switzerland, while latest effort Empros is seemingly named after a Greek news site.
What we can learn from this (aside from never to use Google to help write the opening paragraph of a review) is that the band have...
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Premier Guitar Review: Russian Circles "Empros"
Empros is the album Russian Circles have been striving to concoct since the band’s inception seven years ago. On the three previous releases, the instrumental, post-rock juggernauts honed their craft of incrementally building, charismatic, Kraken-summoning riffs from start to finish. But with this fourth release, the Chicago-originated power trio used the right amount of ingredients from its...
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Pitchfork Review: Russian Circles "Empros"
A balancing act on a cosmic scale, Empros — the fourth LP from mostly instrumental Chicago trio Russian Circles— marries light to dark, order to chaos. Empros swings from the exceedingly beautiful to the punishingly physical in seconds flat. Every note on Empros is its right place, every surface scraped-up just so; a recent Decibel writeup found bassist Brian Cook claiming he’d never make...
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Guitar Squid's Featured Artist & 5 Questions...
Who: Russian Circles
Vibe: Instrumental, progressive metal
Bio: The Chicago/Seattle -based trio is made up of Mike Sullivan on guitar, Brian Cook on bass, and Dave Turncrantz on drums. They came out with their debut album, Enter, in 2006, followed by their second and third albums, Station (2008) and Geneva (2009). Since then the band has worked with producer Brandon Curtis (The Secret...
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North American Headline Tour Starts November 2,...
Russian Circles will be headlining a tour across North America this fall in support of their upcoming album, Empros their fourth full-length that will be released on October 25 via Sargent House. Supporting the band on the road for the majority of shows will be Deafheaven. Always check with Venues directly for full lineups and door times.
RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE 11/02 Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds #...
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Russian Circles at Fun Fun Fun Festival - Austin...
Russian Circles will be playing at this years Fun Fun Fun Festival in Austin, Texas on 11/4 on the Black Stage. On 11/5 they are playing a FREE show for Fest Ticket holders at RED 7 as part of FUN Nites w/ Boris, Tera Melos, Deafheaven and more.
THIS YEAR YOU CAN ALSO WATCH FFF FEST ONLINE IN REAL TIME ON PITCHFORK
FFF Fest Friday - November 4th @Auditorium Shores Russian Circles / Black...
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The Onion's AV CLUB Review of Empros
Russian Circles Empros
In its ongoing attempt to render heavy metal lighter than air, the instrumental trio Russian Circles has made some giant leaps upward—the most recent being 2009’s gorgeous Geneva, an album that emulsified Godflesh and Godspeed You! Black Emperor into a thick yet atmospheric protoplasm. It’s taken two years for Russian Circles to follow up with Empros, and it deviates from...
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Track Review of 309 at Pitchfork
Click above to Stream.
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Interview in Decibel December Issue #86
Russian Circles album Empros gets an 8/10 review and there is a feature interview in the December 2011 Issue #86 of Decibel Magazine. Pick up a copy this month on news stands or online. (click photo to enlarge)
October 2011
11 posts
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Rock Sound Review of "Empros"
Chicago post-rock heroes return with stellar fourth album…
Rating: 9 /10
For a genre that’s literally bursting at the seams these days, it’s hard to see how post-rock can really progress and stay fresh. Fortunately, these thoughts don’t seem to bother Russian Circles. The Chicagoans unleash album number four and show no signs of withering just yet. The rousing ‘309’ kicks things...
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The Oblelisk gives An In Depth Review of "Empros"
For their fourth album, Empros (first directly for Sargent House), the instrumental three-piece Russian Circles returned to producer Brandon Curtis of The Secret Machines, who also helmed 2009’s Geneva. The reasons why are fairly obvious: What the Chicago outfit was able to accomplish with Geneva was their most formidable blend yet of ambience and post-metallic heft, and for the sheer sounds...
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You Indie Feature Interview: Brian Cook
When I found out that Russian Circles would be making two Ohio stops on their Fall tour with Young Widows and Deafheaven I knew that I had to track the band down. These instrumental prog metal maestros have delivered one of the most exciting albums of 2011, Empros via Sargent House. Produced by Brandon Curtis of Secret Machines, Empros finds the band showing off a more raw and visceral...
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"Empros" Out Today in North America / Europe on...
Artist: Russian Circles Album: Empros Label: Sargent House North American Release date: October 25, 2011 European Release: November 7, 2011 CD or VINYL // Itunes // Amazon // Bandcamp
TOUR DATES
<a href=”http://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/empros”...
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SPIN previews Full Album Stream of Empros
Next week, Chicago post-metal outfit Russian Circles will uncage their latest full-length, Empros. As SPIN’s own Christopher R. Weingarten so wryly summarized in his review of the record, it’s an offering that updates the band’s previous “feel-good churn” by “adopting the blown-out blear of black-metal, plus some adrenalized bass-drum stutter-rawk for...
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Rock A Rolla Reviews "Empros"
Russian Circles “Empros” Review in UK’s Rock-A-Rolla Magazine Issue #34. There is also a double page feature on the band with interview in this issue press here to pick up a copy!
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Google Music Magnifier / Artist of the Week:...
The name Russian Circles may seem arbitrary, but there’s a story behind the Chicago instrumental metal trio’s appellation. See, there’s a skating drill that ice hockey players do called “Russian circles.” In it, a player speeds in a looping pattern to follow large circles painted under the ice, constantly moving forwards and backwards across the rink in a demonstration of dexterity and...
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Muzik Dizcovery Review: Russian Circles "Empros"
Russian Circles - Empros Album Rating: A
Chicago-based trio Russian Circles is a strong headliner in the post-metal business, and with the release of their fourth album, they mean business. Empros itself is a tour de force, and brings a fantastic progression from Geneva that does not beg to be played, but commands it. The sheer onslaught brought on by this album is like trying to fight a...
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Brian Cook Answers 5 Questions for 1,000 Knives
Interview by 1000 Knives 1. The new title of the record translates to “moving on/forward” can you elaborate why? Even after 15 years of touring with bands, I’m still learning how to deal with the inertia of spending half the year constantly on the move And the other half of the year in total stasis. It can fuck with your head. Even worse is feeling stuck and immobile in a...
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Empros Vinyl, CD & Bundles now Up for Pre-Order
Russian Circles Pre-Orders for the new album Empros on Vinyl or CD and or special priced bundle packages which come with your choice of any of the three New T-Shirts above are now up at the online store. All orders will ship on or around 10/20 arriving before the release date of 10/25/11. We have also added a new Hoodie. We will have some exclusive Tour merch as well on the road. CLICK HERE...
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Iann Robinson Reviews Empros for Crave Online
CRAVEONLINE RATING 10/10 - by Iann Robinson There are a series of films by director Alejandro Jodorowsky that remind me of Empros, the new album from instrumental innovators Russian Circles. The films, like this album, are filled with bizarre non-sequiturs, epic pieces that stand besides smaller parts and a feeling that so much more is going on here. Empros is a record that drives you to...
September 2011
4 posts
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Rolling Stone Premiere's Mladek from new album...
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Live from Richmond, Australia: The Corner Hotel -...
Russian Circles live from Richmond, Australia at the Corner Hotel on September 8th 2011 . Thanks to Carbie Warbie for sharing it.
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Total Guitar - Feature on Mike Sullivan of Russian...
Click to View Online Story - Issue 218 - September 2011 - starts page 76
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Australia & New Zealand Tour - September 2011
Russian Circles will be headlining their first Tour in Australia and co-headlining two shows in New Zealand with Jakob in September 2011 Presented by Heathen Skulls please always check with venues for details of door times and ticket info. (PLease note the Melbourne show on the 16th listed on the poster has changed to St Kilda - see in dates below)
Russian Circles - Australia & New...
August 2011
2 posts
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Sludge Factory (AU) Interview
Running Circles around Australia
Chicago three-piece post-rock band, RUSSIAN CIRLCES, bring their heavy instrumental sound, fused with an energetic stage show to Australia. Monique Budd had the opportunity to interview Brian Cook, bassist. - SHOW DATES
RUSSIAN CIRLCES’ sonic narrative is mesmerising. With no use of lyric, it allows the listener to be part of the bands story telling....
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Fun Fun Fun Fest
Russian Circles have been announced to play at this years Fun Fun Fun Festival in Austin, TX in November on the Black Stage. Set time and date to be announced, along with a full US / Canadian Headline Tour.
July 2011
2 posts
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Youngblood & Geneva Live from Dour Festival 2011
Russian Circles performing Youngblood & Geneva live at Dour Festival 2011.
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Interview with Copenhagen Post
There are few questions more difficult to answer than: “So, what kind of music do you like?” A concise answer – say, “Rock” or “Hip-hop” – and you’ve said something so general that it’s meaningless. A more precise response – such as “Epic doom metal”,”Minimal house tech” or “Nerdcore” – and you’re bound to come off as an...