Circle Of Reason - NEW!
You may recall us featuring Circle Of Reason before, and that the guys were voted Band Of The Month, then Band Of The Year in the competition we ran in the lead up to the new year. More recently though, Garry from SAN PR got in touch letting us know about their spanking new EP, These Hands And This Mind, due for release on the 29th of July 2013. With a style that’s been compared to the likes of Coheed and Cambria, Soundgarden and The Smashing Pumpkins, Circle Of Reason offer up their own brand of prog-infused alternative rock, packed full of their own unique outlook and ability, and offering a sound that’s incredibly appealing to all who hear it. Having been featured on the likes of Scuzz TV, Kerrang TV and Lava, it seems that this is a band who are truly on the up – so we thought we’d check out this new offering to see where their style was heading.
Opening with Don’t Be Still things get off to a progressive orientated blend of guitar and drum work, a rumbling bass rhythm backing up the mix and offering up a sound which is in your face, raw, powerful, and intricate throughout. Soaring vocals are backed up by intricate guitar work, pinch harmonics and that pummelling rhythm section, forming a sound which is sure to connect with fans of progressive metal, as well as fans of more straight down the line rock orientated style stuff. Catchy throughout, the opening moments of the EP immediately grab your attention, pull you in and keep you guessing as to what else is to come from the record. From layered vocals through to the clever melodies infused over the heavy rhythms, we’re presented with a solid opening for sure, and a moment which says that Circle Of Reason are here, and you’d better be ready for them.
Home seems to mark a slight change in proceedings, this time opening much softer and more reflective, the soft guitar work paving the way into the track whilst the soft and melodic vocals lure you in to listen harder. Combining different vocal lines in a perfect melody, the track continues along its laid back and melodic path, offering you a moment to reflect on things before launching you into a more upbeat and powered up melee of guitar work. Strikingly beautiful from the word go, this track bears all of the hallmarks of a single, and shows that Circle Of Reason are by no means a one trick pony, they can turn their hands to heavy, soft, and can combine the two when the moment presents itself. Moving into Themes Amongst Thieves we’re returned to the prog orientated mix once again, this time with an opening that you’d be forgiven for mistaking for Disturbed – but these comparisons soon fade once the track kicks in properly. Those soaring vocals once again come in to set the tone whilst the backing music progresses at a rate of knots, forming a sound that’s catchy, powerful and perfectly made for the live scene. Listening to this track I was taken back to my days listening to Cold, the vocals adding in that sense of emotional relief whilst the backing track offers up that hard edge that we all look for in music – a track to definitely make sure you check out if you get a chance.
Shifting slightly for Novel, we’re thrown into an almost punky opening before once again the signature sound of Circle Of Reason comes back in. Holding back from the edge, the mix that forms is one which is laid back, deep and thought provoking, once again levelling the distortion so as not to go too far, but at the same time incorporating enough power to keep things satisfying. This track was one of my personal favourites from the EP, it’s got that sing along quality whilst at the same time, manages to offer up enough power to keep things suitably ‘in your face’. It’s only then left to Sleep to close things, once again pulling back to a more soft and melodic opening, showing once again that there’s more to these guys than meets the eye. Finishing the EP with a track that almost showcases their prog-infused style, we’re left on a track that pushes the boundaries of the record, and makes you question how you’ve never heard the band before. From soft guitar work through to emotionally infused vocals, soaring lead lines through to intricate riffs and pounding rhythms, this track may well finish the EP, but it leaves things wide open for what is to follow, and based on what I’ve heard, things are looking damned good!
I’ve been lucky enough to hear a bit of Circle Of Reason over the last couple of months as the chaps have been kind enough to keep me informed in things, and all I can say is that I see big things for these guys. What I really love is that they’re not arrogant about their music, don’t take things for granted, and don’t just go through the motions of writing and recording. The music you get from Circle Of Reason is real, it’s from the heart, and it’s the sort of thing that the world is ready for right about now.
To find out more about Circle Of Reason, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Don’t Be Still things get off to a progressive orientated blend of guitar and drum work, a rumbling bass rhythm backing up the mix and offering up a sound which is in your face, raw, powerful, and intricate throughout. Soaring vocals are backed up by intricate guitar work, pinch harmonics and that pummelling rhythm section, forming a sound which is sure to connect with fans of progressive metal, as well as fans of more straight down the line rock orientated style stuff. Catchy throughout, the opening moments of the EP immediately grab your attention, pull you in and keep you guessing as to what else is to come from the record. From layered vocals through to the clever melodies infused over the heavy rhythms, we’re presented with a solid opening for sure, and a moment which says that Circle Of Reason are here, and you’d better be ready for them.
Home seems to mark a slight change in proceedings, this time opening much softer and more reflective, the soft guitar work paving the way into the track whilst the soft and melodic vocals lure you in to listen harder. Combining different vocal lines in a perfect melody, the track continues along its laid back and melodic path, offering you a moment to reflect on things before launching you into a more upbeat and powered up melee of guitar work. Strikingly beautiful from the word go, this track bears all of the hallmarks of a single, and shows that Circle Of Reason are by no means a one trick pony, they can turn their hands to heavy, soft, and can combine the two when the moment presents itself. Moving into Themes Amongst Thieves we’re returned to the prog orientated mix once again, this time with an opening that you’d be forgiven for mistaking for Disturbed – but these comparisons soon fade once the track kicks in properly. Those soaring vocals once again come in to set the tone whilst the backing music progresses at a rate of knots, forming a sound that’s catchy, powerful and perfectly made for the live scene. Listening to this track I was taken back to my days listening to Cold, the vocals adding in that sense of emotional relief whilst the backing track offers up that hard edge that we all look for in music – a track to definitely make sure you check out if you get a chance.
Shifting slightly for Novel, we’re thrown into an almost punky opening before once again the signature sound of Circle Of Reason comes back in. Holding back from the edge, the mix that forms is one which is laid back, deep and thought provoking, once again levelling the distortion so as not to go too far, but at the same time incorporating enough power to keep things satisfying. This track was one of my personal favourites from the EP, it’s got that sing along quality whilst at the same time, manages to offer up enough power to keep things suitably ‘in your face’. It’s only then left to Sleep to close things, once again pulling back to a more soft and melodic opening, showing once again that there’s more to these guys than meets the eye. Finishing the EP with a track that almost showcases their prog-infused style, we’re left on a track that pushes the boundaries of the record, and makes you question how you’ve never heard the band before. From soft guitar work through to emotionally infused vocals, soaring lead lines through to intricate riffs and pounding rhythms, this track may well finish the EP, but it leaves things wide open for what is to follow, and based on what I’ve heard, things are looking damned good!
I’ve been lucky enough to hear a bit of Circle Of Reason over the last couple of months as the chaps have been kind enough to keep me informed in things, and all I can say is that I see big things for these guys. What I really love is that they’re not arrogant about their music, don’t take things for granted, and don’t just go through the motions of writing and recording. The music you get from Circle Of Reason is real, it’s from the heart, and it’s the sort of thing that the world is ready for right about now.
To find out more about Circle Of Reason, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Circle Of Reason
Another band that Garry from SAN PR recently put us onto was Circle Of Reason, letting us know about their hard hitting EP, A Favour For A Stranger, due out on Monday the 3rd of December. Formed in 2009 in the South West of the UK (home town boys….hell yes!!) the band are out there pushing their alternative rock and progressive approach, offering up a sound akin to the Smashing Pumpkins melded with Silverchair – which sounds pretty damned intriguing to me! Having already been noticed by the likes of Kerrang, Scuzz and Lava TV, the band have already set things in motion for a damned good response to this EP, so I figured I should check it out for myself to see what’s going on.
As Chasing The Sun gets things going it’s easy to see why people are already taking note of these guys, opening with an upbeat guitar line and throwing in some rolling drums to keep the sense of movement flowing through the track. The prog elements of the track are easy to see throughout this one, not following convention and instead crafting a sound which combines an atmospheric approach with a hard hitting metal edge, the resulting sound being something which is easy to listen to, but at the same time makes you question what you thought you knew about music up until now. Even going so far as to throw in catchy hooks, there’s a sense that this is the sort of track which would get people singing along, get them down to a live show, and build the band a reputation as a band to make sure you check out so you don’t miss what they’ve got on offer. Throughout the track we’re shown twists and turns, moments which don’t match the one before, but somehow the band manage to keep it all together and result in a track which is a solid start to the EP for sure.
Silver Scene (video below) marks a heavier approach initially, breaking things down to the more raw elements of the track and hammering out a track filled with sludgy guitar lines, melodic vocals, and a sense of accessibility flowing through the mix. Demonstrating the Smashing Pumpkins and Silverchair comparisons throughout, this could potentially be the track which propels these guys to a new level, the sort of track which will make people sit up and take note. There’s also elements of Incubus style vocals here which adds in a further feeling to the track, turning it into something which sounds familiar in some ways but in others, manages to keep that sense of freshness and newness running through things. Catchy once again, this is a track which promises to become a live anthem, the sort of track which people beg for, and a track which I know I need to see live just to make sure it sounds as good as I imagine it will do.
Closing with Sea Of Voices we’re once again shown off the raw approach of the band, throwing down into a track which isn’t over produced, doesn’t hang on to the tails of a studio to pack a punch and instead, forms into a track which shows off the band in their own special way. Fast paced and energetic, the closing moments of this EP finish it in style and demonstrate just how able a band we’re dealing with, hammering out one final track which represents another serious high point on the EP and leaving no doubt that Circle Of Reason are a band we all need to be taking note of to make sure we don’t miss out on a single moment.
I didn’t really know what to expect from a band describing themselves as alternative rock and progressive, but the resulting EP here from Circle Of Reason is something pretty damned special. Exciting from start to finish and refusing to conform to any particular style, this EP is one I know I’ll be coming back to time and time again, and one that I recommend you get out to get hold of for yourself.
To find out more about Circle Of Reason, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out the video to Silver Scene for yourself below!
Words: Dave Nicholls
As Chasing The Sun gets things going it’s easy to see why people are already taking note of these guys, opening with an upbeat guitar line and throwing in some rolling drums to keep the sense of movement flowing through the track. The prog elements of the track are easy to see throughout this one, not following convention and instead crafting a sound which combines an atmospheric approach with a hard hitting metal edge, the resulting sound being something which is easy to listen to, but at the same time makes you question what you thought you knew about music up until now. Even going so far as to throw in catchy hooks, there’s a sense that this is the sort of track which would get people singing along, get them down to a live show, and build the band a reputation as a band to make sure you check out so you don’t miss what they’ve got on offer. Throughout the track we’re shown twists and turns, moments which don’t match the one before, but somehow the band manage to keep it all together and result in a track which is a solid start to the EP for sure.
Silver Scene (video below) marks a heavier approach initially, breaking things down to the more raw elements of the track and hammering out a track filled with sludgy guitar lines, melodic vocals, and a sense of accessibility flowing through the mix. Demonstrating the Smashing Pumpkins and Silverchair comparisons throughout, this could potentially be the track which propels these guys to a new level, the sort of track which will make people sit up and take note. There’s also elements of Incubus style vocals here which adds in a further feeling to the track, turning it into something which sounds familiar in some ways but in others, manages to keep that sense of freshness and newness running through things. Catchy once again, this is a track which promises to become a live anthem, the sort of track which people beg for, and a track which I know I need to see live just to make sure it sounds as good as I imagine it will do.
Closing with Sea Of Voices we’re once again shown off the raw approach of the band, throwing down into a track which isn’t over produced, doesn’t hang on to the tails of a studio to pack a punch and instead, forms into a track which shows off the band in their own special way. Fast paced and energetic, the closing moments of this EP finish it in style and demonstrate just how able a band we’re dealing with, hammering out one final track which represents another serious high point on the EP and leaving no doubt that Circle Of Reason are a band we all need to be taking note of to make sure we don’t miss out on a single moment.
I didn’t really know what to expect from a band describing themselves as alternative rock and progressive, but the resulting EP here from Circle Of Reason is something pretty damned special. Exciting from start to finish and refusing to conform to any particular style, this EP is one I know I’ll be coming back to time and time again, and one that I recommend you get out to get hold of for yourself.
To find out more about Circle Of Reason, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out the video to Silver Scene for yourself below!
Words: Dave Nicholls