More than 20 years ago, the instrumental trio Russian Circles came together in Chicago, and they've been making vast, searching post-metal ever since. These days, the three band members all live in different parts of the country, and they've got other things going on. Bassist/keyboardist Brian Cook, for instance, recently took part in the Botch reunion, and he's in SUMAC with Aaron Turner; he lives on Vashon Island, outside Seattle. Guitarist Mike Sullivan, meanwhile, lives in LA, while drummer Dave Turncrantz remains in Chicago. But Russian Circles still get together to make music and tour, and they've just announced a new album called Nine.
Russian Circles recorded most of Nine, the follow-up to 2022's Gnosis, at the late Steve Albini's Chicago studio Electrical Audio with Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou, who has been producing them since 2016. They finished it at Ballou's God City studio in Salem, Massachusetts. Lead single "Empath" is heavier and more riff-centric than I expected. It sounds like being lost at sea during a storm.
This fall, Russian Circles will head out on a North American tour, playing half the shows with Pelican and the other half with Primitive Man. Below, check out the Madeline Hampton-directed "Empath" video, the Nine tracklist, and the band's tour dates.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Borehole"
02 "Empath"
03 "Eluvial"
04 "E2"
05 "Meridian"
06 "Arletta"
07 "Seventh Seal"
TOUR DATES:
9/25 - Whitefish Bay, WI @ The Argo *
9/26 - Chicago, IL @ Bohemian National Cemetery *
9/28 - Detroit, MI @ El Club *
9/29 - Toronto, ON @ The Opera House *
9/30 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda *
10/01 - Boston, MA @ Royale *
10/03 - Queens, NY @ Knockdown Center *
10/04 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
10/05 - Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage *
10/07 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle *
10/08 - Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm *
10/09 - Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Theater *
10/10 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
10/12 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East *
10/13 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi *
11/04 - St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall $
11/06 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves $
11/07 - Austin, TX @ The Far Out Lounge $
11/09 - Phoenix, AZ @ Walter Studios $
11/11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco $
11/12 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall $
11/14 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom $
11/15 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox $
11/16 - Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall $
11/17 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall $
11/19 - Englewood, CO @ The Gothic Theatre $
11/20 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown $
11/21 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater $
* with Pelican
$ with Primitive Man
Nine is out 8/28 on Sargent House. Pre-order it here.
