Post-metal maestros Russian Circles headline Great American Music Hall

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — Cinematic post-metal favorites Russian Circles play songs from their latest album ‘Gnosis’ at the Great American Music Hall Friday night, sharing the stage with opening act REZN.

For the past 15 years, Chicago instrumental trio Russian Circles has been one of the key players if the Midwestern city’s fertile experimental metal scene. Founded in 2004 by guitarist Mike Sullivan and original bassist Colin DeKuiper after their math-rock band Dakota/Dakota dissolved, the two musicians recruited metal drummer David Turncrantz and started exploring cinematic sonic territory that nodded to Chicago post-rock pioneers Tortoise and similarly heavy instrumental act Pelican.

The group would part ways with DeKuiper in 2008, bringing former Botch/These Arms Are Snakes bassist Brian Cook on board for the recording of their second album, Station. With its line-up solidified, the trio has refined its slowly blossoming style of atmospheric post-metal to majestic new heights. Recording for independent label Sergeant House since the release of the band’s fourth effort Empros in 2011, the trio has continued to build on its loyal fan base.

The group took some time releasing a studio follow-up to its elegiac 2019 album Memorial (the band did issue its first concert recording Live at Dunk! Fest a year later), but in 2019 issued Blood Year, its third effort for the established metal imprint. Another brooding and atmospheric exploration of heavy sounds, the album found the trio working at the top of its game. 

With the pandemic forcing the band off the road during what likely would have been continued touring to promote Blood Year, Russian Circles would instead focus on writing new material. With COVID keeping the individual members in isolation, the trio eschewed its usual songwriting approach of fleshing out ideas during in-person band practices for a different method with each player making demos of fully formed tunes that were then presented to the group. 

The resulting effort Gnosis presents some of the most aggressive and emotional songs Russian Circle has recorded yet, channeling the frustrations, fears and anxieties of pandemic existence into a taut and cathartic 40 minutes of music that stands with their best work. Fans are sure to pack the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco Friday night when Russian Circles bring their current tour to the Bay Area. They will be joined by Chicago-based heavy psych band REZN, who will likely preview some tunes from their forthcoming new album Solace.

Russian Circles with REZN
Friday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m. $24-$28
Great American Music Hall