STATION

Many claim that the loud soft effect, perfected by Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky is being so overused, and so cliche that it's killing Post Rock. With it's overly used guitar build up to a soaring climax with pounding drums, sometimes vocals and strings, but you can always be sure there will be at least one guitar playing distartion into delay, giving that kind of triumphant and overpowering tone. You know what, I disagree with these nay-sayers, I love this formula, I am a sucker for the slow build up, and the ever so stereotypical climax, and I love that guitar tone, and I dont care how cheesy it is, if it's gorgeous like Mogwai, Eits, The Evpatoria report, Caspian, or Pg.Lost, then I'll probably like it...

But this is Russian circles, a band who shook the Post Rock world with their aggressive debut album Enter, Where the climax came through speed, technicallity, and distortion, not slow brooding delayed guitars. No this is a different kind of instrumental band, one that has the nerve to cross into metal, but isnt post metal, one that is not afraid of technicality, but still are labeled Post rock. This is a band who truly define the phrase Sophomore slump, Another thing that I dont believe in. So many good bands make some of their best work through their sophomore attempt, A perfect Circle, Isis, Pelican, Genesis, ELP, the list goes on. Russian Circles make me doubt my own beliefs though.

These three guys put out station, a very highly anticipated album by the media, and while it was recieved well by the critics, most of the fans of Enter obviously dont feel the same. There is no energy, PERIOD! Songs like Harper Lewis, and Young blood dont even stand up to the ferocity of Micah, or Death rides a horse, as far as speed, technicality, or aggression. No instead most of the album is exactly what I explained earlier, stereotypical, and boring. Yeah, if this were any other band I would probably love most of the songs, but the only song I actually can say that I enjoy the whole way through is Campaign, cause it's just that pretty. Sure the songs do have their moments, but it's just not the same Russian Circles that made Enter, and it's disapointing to me.

2 stars to the band that followed the stereotype.

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