Melbourne’s prog-metal outfit CIRCLES‘ storm continues with the release their huge new EP The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1, released yesterday, 25th November via Wild Thing Records.
The trio have also released their focus track from the EP, ‘Reckoning’, which you can stream here:
The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 is the first instalment of an epic two-part EP, following Circles’ sophomore record, The Last One,which garnered international recognition and domestic success in Australia (#4 TheMusic’s Album of the Year 2018, #3 AIR Independent Albums). The progressive giants continue to lead the path of the international djent movement with their upcoming release, furthering the incorporation of shimmering, wavering pads, belting breakdowns and propelling percussion.
The next instalment of The Stories We Are Afraid Of continues on where the previous singles left off, by portraying themes of self-reflection and desperation to make a resolution; to fight your struggles and take the first steps to reacclimate to the life you once lived.
Frontman Ben Rechter states:
“The overarching theme of Vol.1 is one of a loss of identity and purpose, and trying to recapture a sense of wonder and passion for life that was once a core part of you. Musically, we went into these writing sessions with a focus on being more direct than on previous albums, steering away from crowding songs with heaps of different riffs for the sake of having more riffs that we personally like in there.”
Concluding their successful Australian ‘Sleepwalking’ Tour (Destroy All Lines and Wild Thing Presents) in early September, Circles have already reignited their loyal Australian fanbase and left their international community cut and craving. Prior touring history across Australia and Europe with TesseracT, Periphery, Opeth, Fear Factory, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Twelve Foot Ninja cement the veteran’s place as one of Australia’s quintessential prog/alt-metal mainstays.
Order The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 now via Wild Thing Music Store, which has now launched European and North American webstores (in addition to the original Australia-based webstore), providing customers in those regions with a more convenient and streamlined experience.
“’Echo’ is Vol. 1’s lowest point, emotionally. It deals with being well and truly at the bottom, feeling as though you deserve the hopelessness that you feel. Even if that’s not a true reflection of the situation, sometimes those inner voices block out all others with a relentless drone.”
Paired with the single is the epic music video produced by the band’s very own David Hunter. Filmed at Fabrik Studios, the clip parallels the building tension in the track as Rechter is seen despondent on the floor before contemporary dancer Bridget Lyte appears. Lyte’s movements intensify as the track grows in its dynamics and the rest of the band make their appearance. The band and Lyte unleash and purge in the track’s peak amongst a colossal white light show to close out.
The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 is the first instalment of an epic two-part EP, following Circles’ sophomore record, The Last One,which garnered international recognition and domestic success in Australia (#4 TheMusic’s Album of the Year 2018, #3 AIR Independent Albums). The progressive giants continue to lead the path of the international djent movement with their upcoming release, furthering the incorporation of shimmering, wavering pads, belting breakdowns and propelling percussion.
The next instalment of The Stories We Are Afraid Of continues on where the previous singles left off, by portraying themes of self-reflection and desperation to make a resolution; to fight your struggles and take the first steps to reacclimate to the life you once lived.
Frontman Ben Rechter continues:
“The overarching theme of Vol.1 is one of a loss of identity and purpose, and trying to recapture a sense of wonder and passion for life that was once a core part of you. Musically, we went into these writing sessions with a focus on being more direct than on previous albums, steering away from crowding songs with heaps of different riffs for the sake of having more riffs that we personally like in there.”
‘Echo’ starts with a resonating electronic kick drum, paired with atmospheric synths and the hypnotic despair in Rechter’s vocals. The impact of the building drums and subtle guitars reflects that growing ache in one’s head that’s filled with voices of self-doubt, paralysing pity and pressure. Dropping out for a glitched-filled interlude like the calm before the storm, the band erupt into a skeleton-shaking triple-time breakdown. Leading the track out with a bone-crushing riff and a powerful vocal delivery pleading to break from the foundations of one’s turmoil, this is one of Circles‘ most cathartic tracks to date.
‘Echo’ was mastered by Luke Cinacotta (Karnivool & Dead Letter Circus) and produced/mixed by Circles‘ own Ted Furuhashi. With the abundance of subtle auxiliary percussion, lush floating synthesiser pads and a pulsating electronic kick drum, Circles‘ new direction with production has led to a track that’s inherently progressive in nature.
Concluding their successful Australian ‘Sleepwalking’ Tour (Destroy All Lines and Wild Thing Presents) in early September, Circles have already reignited their loyal Australian fanbase and left their international community cut and craving. Prior touring history across Australia and Europe with TesseracT, Periphery, Opeth, Fear Factory, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Twelve Foot Ninja cement the veteran’s place as one of Australia’s quintessential prog/alt-metal mainstays.
Pre-order The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 now via Wild Thing Music Store, which has now launched European and North American webstores (in addition to the original Australia-based webstore), providing customers in those regions with a more convenient and streamlined experience.
Photo credit: Courtney Santos-Awkwardeye Photography
Texas’ electronic rockers CEDARS have just released an acoustic live-in-studio version for their latest radio hit single ‘Circles’!
CEDARS’ frontlady Sandeigh on live-in-studio ‘Circles’: “Circles is a look at the ways we fall into patterns based on the scripts culture hands us. But we’re more than that. It’s about waking up to the realization that we have deep inner wisdom and it’s always inviting us to lean in to hear it.”
Watch it HERE:
Earlier Sandeigh revealed on ‘Circles’ single: “Circles is about rhythms. All of life – everything around – is filled with them. The tides, the moon, the weather, our breath, our blood, you, me. There’s this incredible circular, life-death-life rhythm to everything.
I feel like we get talked out of listening to the wisdom these circles have to offer us. There’s so much knowledge in our bodies and in the natural world and when we tune into those places, they have a lot to say. Sometimes, in order to hear that, we have to be willing to let go of things we think matter, things we might not want to part with, to burn those things down to make room for new growth. That’s part of the life-death-life cycle -that’s part of the cyclical nature of life and growth. Even when it’s uncomfortable or we have to go against popular opinion or maybe the “way we’ve always done things.”
For me, the inner wisdom I hear is often one calling me to a wilder life. She’s asking me to wake up to my true nature and helps me see what needs to die in me to make room for more authenticity. Her voice is wise and daring. (And sometimes asking me to get WAY outside of my comfort zone. But I trust her.)
What circles are you being called to look at in your world? Inside and out…what needs to die and what needs to be tended?”
Currently the band is in the studio working on their next full-length album.
The band issued: “We got started on new concepts even as we were gearing up to release Cowards back in June.
While Cowards explores a theme of letting go and shedding what’s no longer needed, this new body of work is a deeper look into what comes alongside that purging, and what can be possible in its place. Cowards really feels like a forest fire. Everything was burning down in our actual lives and that, of course, made its way into the stories on that album and the videos we’ve created from it. But some of the most fertile soil is found after fire removes what’s no longer serving the forest. It makes room for new life.
But first we sit and sift through the ashes.
The new album’s title has a lot to do with the pause in-between the burning away and next season. It will explore themes of shadow work and inner patterns, and how the light needs the dark. And as usual, we’re doing it with an expansive and deep soundscape.
We’re excited. We’ve been in the demo phase for a bit and what’s coming together feels really good, like we’re more settled into who we are individually and as a family.”
Stay tuned for more information!
CEDARS released their latest album “Cowards” on June 11th 2021, via Gruene Records.
The band of the concept of the “Cowards” album: “Cowards, at its core, is an album about choosing yourself, even in the face of great consequences. So often we find ourselves in situations or systems that ask us to minimize ourselves or our desires or even our needs, but there comes a point where we have to make some really tough choices: do we continue to support the system that is crushing us and building itself on our backs, or do we honour our own still, small voice? The album is the story of finding ourselves in a season of life where those choices were very pressing, and very loud, with very real consequences. There are times when death is necessary to make room for the new, the better, and sometimes the knife is in our own hands. The album, though full of heavy moments, is also woven with bright strands of hope and light, the kind that can only come after great loss and struggle. How quietly we go to war.”
CEDARS is an electronic rock band from central Texas whose music incorporates the DIY ethos of bands like The Pixies and PJ Harvey, the haunting atmospheres of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, and the infectious grooves of MuteMath. CEDARS is more than just a band: it’s is a vision of community, a community driven by the idea that beauty can save the world. Led by longtime friends Sandeigh Kennedy and Drew Heaton, they blend industrial and organic textures, drawing together disparate elements to marry complex sonic landscapes with compelling stories. Gritty synths and wispy vocals; hard hitting beats and delicate textures are the tools they use to tell powerful, authentic stories that explore truth and beauty.
Photo credit: Courtney Santos-Awkwardeye Photography
Texas’ electronic rockers CEDARS have just release their new radio hit single, entitled ‘Circles‘, which is about rhythms!
CEDARS’ frontlady Sandeigh on ‘Circles’: “Circles is about rhythms. All of life – everything around – is filled with them. The tides, the moon, the weather, our breath, our blood, you, me. There’s this incredible circular, life-death-life rhythm to everything.
I feel like we get talked out of listening to the wisdom these circles have to offer us. There’s so much knowledge in our bodies and in the natural world and when we tune into those places, they have a lot to say. Sometimes, in order to hear that, we have to be willing to let go of things we think matter, things we might not want to part with, to burn those things down to make room for new growth. That’s part of the life-death-life cycle -that’s part of the cyclical nature of life and growth. Even when it’s uncomfortable or we have to go against popular opinion or maybe the “way we’ve always done things.”
For me, the inner wisdom I hear is often one calling me to a wilder life. She’s asking me to wake up to my true nature and helps me see what needs to die in me to make room for more authenticity. Her voice is wise and daring. (And sometimes asking me to get WAY outside of my comfort zone. But I trust her.)
What circles are you being called to look at in your world? Inside and out…what needs to die and what needs to be tended?”
Furthermore, the band has announced their next shows, see the details below.
January 14th – The Forge, Ben Wheeler, Texas January 16th – Acadia Bar and Grill, Houston, Texas
More shows TBA.
Currently the band is in the studio working on their next full-length album.
The band issued: “We got started on new concepts even as we were gearing up to release Cowards back in June.
While Cowards explores a theme of letting go and shedding what’s no longer needed, this new body of work is a deeper look into what comes alongside that purging, and what can be possible in its place. Cowards really feels like a forest fire. Everything was burning down in our actual lives and that, of course, made its way into the stories on that album and the videos we’ve created from it. But some of the most fertile soil is found after fire removes what’s no longer serving the forest. It makes room for new life.
But first we sit and sift through the ashes.
The new album’s title has a lot to do with the pause in-between the burning away and next season. It will explore themes of shadow work and inner patterns, and how the light needs the dark. And as usual, we’re doing it with an expansive and deep soundscape.
We’re excited. We’ve been in the demo phase for a bit and what’s coming together feels really good, like we’re more settled into who we are individually and as a family.”
Stay tuned for more information!
CEDARS released their latest album “Cowards” on June 11th 2021, via Gruene Records.
The band of the concept of the “Cowards” album: “Cowards, at its core, is an album about choosing yourself, even in the face of great consequences. So often we find ourselves in situations or systems that ask us to minimize ourselves or our desires or even our needs, but there comes a point where we have to make some really tough choices: do we continue to support the system that is crushing us and building itself on our backs, or do we honour our own still, small voice? The album is the story of finding ourselves in a season of life where those choices were very pressing, and very loud, with very real consequences. There are times when death is necessary to make room for the new, the better, and sometimes the knife is in our own hands. The album, though full of heavy moments, is also woven with bright strands of hope and light, the kind that can only come after great loss and struggle. How quietly we go to war.”
CEDARS is an electronic rock band from central Texas whose music incorporates the DIY ethos of bands like The Pixies and PJ Harvey, the haunting atmospheres of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, and the infectious grooves of MuteMath. CEDARS is more than just a band: it’s is a vision of community, a community driven by the idea that beauty can save the world. Led by longtime friends Sandeigh Kennedy and Drew Heaton, they blend industrial and organic textures, drawing together disparate elements to marry complex sonic landscapes with compelling stories. Gritty synths and wispy vocals; hard hitting beats and delicate textures are the tools they use to tell powerful, authentic stories that explore truth and beauty.
Australian progressive rockers CIRCLES will be embarking on their ‘Winter’ Tour across Australian landscapes and to the shores of New Zealand throughout July and August 2019. In addition, they are taking CITY OF SOULS and EBONIVORY along for the ride.
The tour lands in New Zealand first, where Auckland’s CITY OF SOULS will headline shows in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, then returns to Australia for CIRCLES’ headline shows in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Belgrave, and Ballarat. A full list of confirmed shows can be found below.
CIRCLES AUS/NZ Tor Dates
With CITY OF SOULS and EBONIVORY:
07/04 Jul 19 Wellington (NZ) @ Valhalla *
07/05 Jul 19 Auckland (NZ) @ Galatos *
07/06 Jul 19 Christchurch (NZ) @ Club Tavern *
07/11 Jul 19 Sydney (AU) @ Oxford Art Factory **
07/12 Jul 19 Adelaide (AU) @ Jive **
07/13 Jul 19 Melbourne (AU) @ Max Watts **
07/19 Jul 19 Brisbane (AU) @ The Zoo
07/20 Jul 19 Perth (AU) @ Badlands *
07/26 Jul 19 Canberra (AU) @ The Basement
08/02 Aug 19 Belgrave (AU) @ Sooki Lounge
08/03 Aug 19 Ballarat (AU) @ Karova Lounge
With CITY OF SOULS *
With CITY OF SOULS and EBONIVORY **
The Australian progressive extremists have released their latest album ‘The Last One’ on Season of Mist on August 31, 2018. Listen to the record HERE.
According to Bravewords.com, Euroblast Festival 2013 – The Ninth Coming is scheduled for October 11th – 13th at Essigfabrik in Cologne, Germany.
Acts on the bill for the festival include: MESHUGGAH, TEXTURES, THE OCEAN, THE AGONIST, THREAT SIGNAL, MONUMENTS, EVER FORTHRIGHT, CIRCLES, TWELVE FOOT NINJA, THE ALGORITHM, HACRIDE, SKYHARBOR, XERATH, BENEA REACH, BEAR, HYPNO5E, FEARED, SYQEM, ALIASES, POMEGRANATE TIGER, THE OMEGA EXPERIMENT, NO CONSEQUENCE, LIFEFORMS, DEATHEMBER, ARSIS, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT, HUMANITYS LAST BREATH, CYCLAMEN, [TRAP], DAWN HEIST, HORD, OVERDOWN, TARDIVE DYSKINESIA, HEIGHTS, KARTIKEYA, INVOCATION, GRANDEXIT, NEXILVA, THIRD EAR, ARECIBO, CAMBION, EMPATHEA, plus a secret act, to be announced. Complete details at this location.
Festival trailer:
Chief Shock Video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
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Kimmo Kuusniemi's Ancient Streaming Assembly - 'Perpetuae Memoriae', ft. Tuomas Rounakari + Steve Di Giorgio - Click image to watch the video
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 