THE CIRCLE · Of Awakening | LP - BLACK

Black vinyl LP in gatefold sleeve. 180g vinyl.

Background information about 'Of Awakening'

Absolutely stunning sophomore effort from German art metallers The Circle - this is exactly the kind of record that reminds you why extreme metal still has the power to completely floor you!This is incredible! Easily in my top 3 for the year already!With ex-Wintersun vocalist Asim Searah leading the charge, these guys have crafted something genuinely special here. The album's five tracks take you on a dark journey through "egoism, devastation, self-hatred and reflection" that somehow manages to be both brutally heavy and hauntingly beautiful.

What makes "Of Awakening" so compelling is how seamlessly The Circle blend their influences -Germany's The Circle utilizes all of the above in its dense and expansive blend of melodic death, doom, and black metal, capped off by symphonic soundscapes and a Gothic vocal style of both warbling baritone and vicious growls.The title track features a spine-chilling violin solo from Tim Charles of Ne Obliviscaris, while tracks like "Ruins, My Dying World" showcaseslow, solemn clean guitar passages, each note filled with dread and despair. This reminds of the prog metal titans Woods Of Ypres, such is the moodiness of this riff.At just 33 minutes, it's perfectly concise yet feels absolutely massive in scope.

For fans of: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ne Obliviscaris, Woods of Ypres, Dimmu Borgir and Wintersun

Track listing

A1. Ruins, My Dying World
A2. Of Awakening
A3. Afflux
B1. Reign Of The Black Sun
B2. Ashes And Fading Tide

Manufacturer: AOP Records, Auf den Steinen 15, 38723 Seesen, Germany, Contact: www.aoprecords.de