dunk!festival

Post-rock and black metal have never sounded this good together. Russian Circles manipulates the sweeping beauty of instrumental rock music and meshes it together with the "slit-your wrist" depressed style of doom metal. It is always fascinating to have two extremes paired together. Reflective sensitivity and ear shattering nihilism intuitively have no place together, but Russian Circles makes it work. They can linger in the beauty of quite atmospheric tones, but rupture the silence with sonic waves of clashing cymbals and heavily distorted / detuned bass.
There really isn't much apparent melody in the performances of Russian Circles and their live presentation at best is stoic. However this does not mean they are boring to see live. If the incredible loudness of the performance doesn't shake you into absolute mesmerization than the technical connectivity of the band will. They weave pieces of noise into interesting textures and create auricular palates consisting of sounds that offset each other in interesting ways. The drums provide a barbaric and simply calculated beat, at other times they are unpredictable and complex. The guitar is used primarily for textural construction introducing sharp hisses of noise, reverberated echoes and soft soundscapes. The bass adds a huge punch to the music really accenting the drum beat and keeping the overall structure of the song on track.
For a three piece band Russian Circles offers a wide array of sounds. Going to one of their concerts you could be basking in the ambience and beauty of such tracks as "Memorial" or feel like you are battling against the baltic winds on a viking ship with brooding pieces such as "309".

"Waking Season"
Music is universal, and there are very few bands during this time that can effortlessly get their message across with little to no lyrics or vocals, Caspian is one of those bands.

Their music works for everything from driving while exploring the world around you, a bad breakup where you need to vent to find yourself again, or just the need to feel your chest tighten with emotion where breathing becomes a poetic gift. They cross seas and lands to reach a new height for their music, allowing their beauty to ring in your ears and mind as soon as you step out of the venue. I even told some of the band members this to show my appreciation and gratitude for making this music, music that held a line right through me.

Not just any silly twine, they sunk their line into a vast ocean of waves and I grabbed on by listening to 00034 / You Are The Conductor, the beginning of my instrumental journey; it was as tranquil as morning dew on a field of grass that reminds you, its all yours in those moments.

As years went onward I found delicate candles of flame lighting up the once vast space around me, as I found individuals at shows that were there on the same level of music appreciation talking about Caspian as well, a universal bliss. Lines can be crossed, spread, and found in other areas of the globe, from talking, feeling and enjoying those moments with others engulfed by the flowing music.

When you are at the next Caspian show and just as soon as you are feeling the music to take hold look around, and in that time just know it will feel natural to have your jaw suddenly open as you notice others just like yourself are in the same meditative trance you are in, now enjoy it.

Let's just say I missed out on my effort to see them for a second time as their show was Sold Out! It was bittersweet since I didn't see them perform, but I knew others who may have never seen them now had that privilege and enjoyment I had.

You all heard the records and now watch them live, trust me.

I am happy they are getting the recognition they deserve and I wish them the best on their journey of making the world enormously brighter and beautiful, and to all of you reading You Are The Conductor.

Thank You Caspian
Hear ToStay

Post-rock, post-metal, stoner, doom rock, black metal….call it what you will, but Illinois four-piece Pelican make a thunderous racket on record and in concert. Formed in 2000 by brothers Brian and Larry Herweg, Trevor de Brauw and Dallas Thomas, Pelican don’t just lay all their cards on the table by relying on riffs – this is a band that relies as much upon atmospherics as it does the power of noise. Connected to both Hydra Head and Southern Lord records, the band has toured with kindred spirits Isis and Wolves in the Throne Room and released great records like 'Australasia' and 'Forever Becoming,' standing out as pioneers in that post-metal sound that draws as much from electronic ambient music as it does from crunching guitar riffs. As they’re an entirely instrumental band, Pelican has to rely wholly on the power of its music live, as there’s no front man to carry the focus. That’s not a problem though as "Dead Between the Walls" from 2007’s 'City of Echoes' launches straight into a barrage of heavy riffing, while "Strung Up from the Sky" chimes first before building to a wall of noise without ever losing that gorgeous melody. Long-time encore and final set closer "Mammoth" has survived since the band’s first EP and it simply lays riff upon riff until you are battered into submission. Although there’s nothing wrong with this music on record, I always say the best way to experience bands like Pelican is when they play live. That way, you get power and noise completely unedited or watered down by studio trickery.