TERMINAL
Southern Lord.
Progressive Rock, Psychedelia, Krautrock.
Listening Format: Digital
Usually I like to research an artist before I review them, or I will already have a clear understanding of an artist's back catalogue beforehand, but I'm making an exception for Circle. I was recently recommended them with only the description of "Finnish madness", and it was enough to raise my intrigue. This new record also happens to be released on the highly reputable Southern Lord label, so I knew I had to give it a spin. It turns out that Circle have been going since the early 90s and have put out well over 20 albums on various obscure labels, all of varying styles and subgenres. So even if I wanted to research their back catalogue in preparation for this review, I wouldn't have time or even know where to start!
Upon diving into 'Terminal', I was grabbed by them immediately. They kick off with the longest track on the album that has a bit of a jam band feel to it. Circle burst into life with a fantastic opening riff, with a Garage Rock guitar feel. There is plenty of fuzz and distortion, delivering a crunchy guitar sound. Their vocalist soon kicks in, unleashing a truly animalistic roar that really took me off guard. But Circle are always mixing up their vocal styles, with strange operatic vocals emerging halfway through the song, sounding somewhere between Iron Maiden and Magma! There are also these strange whispering and chanting vocals that add a creepy feel reminiscent of Goblin's 'Suspiria' theme. The track as a whole has a very 70s feel to it, with plenty of guitar and keyboard noodling sections, but the proggy track is held together well with an eerie atmosphere and off kilter twists and turns. The title track is another huge standout, propelling the band into a much more minimalist and repetitive groove this time around. The Krautrock influences come through here, with a really catchy psyched out riff that sounds like Moon Duo. Following a complex, proggy opus with a simple riff rocker actually seems to pay off really well, giving some needed breathing space in the record, as well as getting those heads a bangin'! 'Imperiumi' is another huge highlight on the album where the bombast of the vocals really takes over. The operatic vocals are in full force, and the way they intertwine with the almost jazzy riffs is superb and will get stuck in your head. Such an unsubtle and fun song.
'Terminal' as a whole sounds perfectly nostalgic. I can hear so many sprinkles of great late 60s/early 70s Rock and Metal. There are little bits of Black Sabbath, Hawkwind, The Doors, The Stooges and Can all over this record. Circle's genius lays in providing truly belting and meaty riffs and grooves that can keep a listener nodding along for a whole track, and then using those solid riffs as a leaping point to add in wild and unpredictable crazy quirks along the way. In particular, the vocals on this album add so much wonder, mystery and even a bit of drama and humour here and there. Circle are clearly a highly competent band and even though their discography is vast, they play with so much passion and urgency throughout this record, which is really one of the things that impresses me most. Circle come across as a band that aren't short on ideas and are discovering new grounds, even this far into their journey! 8/10.
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