Russian Circles - Station

Russian Circles - Station (2008)
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Buy their CDhere.

So I visited Austin about 3 weeks ago and went to a Pelican/Isis show was very impressed with Pelican's live performance. I told all my friends and they all pointed me to this band. This is the first record of theirs that I deluge my ears with and I think I clearly understand why the band was recommended to me.

I've been enjoying the record all morning as it's helped me get through the day way faster. I drove to work with them on shuffle and I sat at my desk and got to work with my Sennheiser HD 580 Precision headphones on playing stations starting from track #1 titled "campaign." I don't know much about the meaning behind the songs as I've done little research but the record is definitely a campaign in well-defined, kick ass music.

Well-defined is to say that the songs and their recordings do an excellent, clear, job of expressing what each instrument intends to convey without a mash-up of sound in a series of longish, brooding eulogistic metal overtures.

As I listened I thought the music would be great for anything from a serious zombie movie or a super secret black ops film. I imagine the opening credits to a movie where passenger jet is being escorted to the runway for take-off. I don't remember the rest of the ideas that came out of that imagination daze. Anyhow, enjoy the record.

Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters

I've seen this band and read their name on many sites. Not till recently a friend of mine shared a listen via his iPod and I fancied the record. Deemed part of the black metal genre, although they prefer not to be categorized, their Wiki states that they've referred to themselves as belonging to what should be thought of as "purifying black metal."

Their sound in my opinion shares many elements found in black metal, however I argue that there are post-metal elements clearly heard during some atmospheric soundscapes. In particular on track 3, Cleansing. Up until the 4:07 time stamp, slow ceremonial-like drums and symphonic vocals generate what later transitions to a triumphant accelerating descent of double bass drums and rasp.

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Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters