Russian Circles

Russian Circles are an instrumental rock and post-metal group from Chicago, United States, active since 2004. The band’s line-up comprises guitarist Mike Sullivan, bassist Brian Cook, and drummer Dave Turncrantz, with former bassist Colin DeKuiper in the original line-up from 2004 to 2007. Their music combines heavy, discordant metal with quieter, more delicate passages, and they are also identified with atmospheric sludge metal, math rock, post-metal, post-rock, and sludge metal.

Formation and members

The group forms in late 2004, when Mike Sullivan and Colin DeKuiper, both formerly of the instrumental band Dakota/Dakota, start the project and quickly bring in Dave Turncrantz, who previously plays with St. Louis band Riddle of Steel. DeKuiper leaves in 2007, and Brian Cook, known for work with These Arms Are Snakes and Botch, joins on bass for writing and recording from that point onward.

Albums and recordings

The band’s recorded output begins with the self-released EP Russian Circles in 2004. Their debut studio album Enter follows in 2006 on Flameshovel. In 2008 they release Station on Suicide Squeeze Records, recorded in Seattle with producer Matt Bayles. Their third album, Geneva, appears in 2009 on Suicide Squeeze, with the same line-up as Station and a larger writing role for Brian Cook.

Russian Circles sign to Sargent House in 2011, a label that had previously issued the band’s albums on limited-edition vinyl. That year they release Empros. Memorial follows in 2013, produced by Brandon Curtis and featuring a guest vocal by Chelsea Wolfe. The band’s later albums are Guidance in 2016, produced by Kurt Ballou; Blood Year in 2019, recorded at GodCity Studio in Salem and Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio in Chicago and also produced by Ballou; and Gnosis in 2022, engineered and mastered by Ballou. Their recorded work also includes the split release Russian Circles / These Arms Are Snakes, the live albums Live at Schubas 05/27/2005 and Live at Dunk! Fest, the single “Upper Ninety”, and the Audiotree Music EP Audiotree Far Out.

Live work and collaborations

The band is noted for energetic live performances and tours with Isis, Tool, Red Sparowes, Pelican, Minus the Bear, Daughters, and others. They also take part in the SXSW festival in 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2013, after releasing Memorial, they undertake a co-headlining UK and European tour with Chelsea Wolfe.

Music videos

The band also releases a video for “Gnosis” in 2022.