Russian Circles are a post metal-rock trio - aka, a heavy instrumental band - from Chicago. At least, they are mostly instrumental, because on Praise Be Man, the last of the six sprawling epics here, there is a spiritualized-style gospel mantra throughout. But apart from that, they let their weighty instrumental intensity do the talking.
After three impressive albums since forming in 2004, the beautifully dizzying Empros is their best yet. The songs can move from soaring and symphonic to relentless and pounding before bristling ambient textures restore a sense of tranquilly.
Think of our own Jakob or Kerretta only with more extreme musical influences from the likes of punishing experimentalists Swans or recently reformed metal pioneers Godflesh.
Opener 309 is a multi-level slab of reinforced metal, with pestilent riffs, lurching rhythms, and then it gallops off with bruising abandon before descending into a diatribe of dissonance, all within the space of nine majestically heavy minutes. The thing about Russian Circles is their willingness to let the songs loose - like on the brooding Atackla, the taut symphony of Sciphol, and the resolute groove and rumble that unfolds on Batu - before reeling them back in with patience and poise. It's this restraint before putting their foot on the throat of the song, and lunging into it with ruthless intensity, that gives this album an uncompromising yet magnetic power.
Stars: 4.5/5
Verdict: Close to instrumental perfection
