The Circle
Of Awakening


3.2
good

Review

by Sunnyvale STAFF
August 16th, 2023 | 5 replies


Release Date: 08/18/2023 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Of Awakening is an album you won’t love, but you will certainly like. In this case, it’s just fine

German band The Circle attracted some attention with their 2021 first release Metamorphosis, a twenty-seven minute, four song release variously identified as either an EP or an LP. For this listener, it was a compelling listen, blending prog, melodeath, black metal, post-metal, and symphonic touches into an intriguing whole, making The Circle unquestionably a band to watch.

Now, here’s the follow-up. Of Awakening is unambiguously labeled an LP, although given its five song, thirty-three minute runtime, the band’s penchant for brevity remains. The Circle continue to broadly explore the same musical territories, but it is clear they’ve aimed to prioritize atmosphere over melody this time around. Fans who gravitated towards the melodeath aspects of Metamorphosis might be a touch disappointed, even if that genre still plays a role here, with this release simultaneously feeling a bit heavier (even if not particularly brutal by underground metal standards) and more atmospherically haunting.

Every song here is reliably enjoyable, from the title track’s catchiness (and violin solo from Ne Obliviscaris’ Tim Charles) to the grand delivery of “Ashes and Falling Tides” and the tastefully triumphant march which defines “Reign of the Black Sun”. Ironically, though, even if The Circle seem to have pursued a more cohesive vision here than they did on Metamorphosis, I tend to find the latter to have a more readily identifiable identity, even if it’s only an exciting “throw things at the wall” energy. In short, Of Awakening showcases plenty of hints of a promising formula merging black/death metal with symphonic and neoclassical influences to produce a brooding and sinister feel, but most often the results feel a bit suspended between various trends in the modern metal landscape. I’ll eagerly await The Circle’s next rendition, but this album feels more like a “good” than a truly “great” offering.



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user ratings (16)
3.4
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Sunnyvale
Staff Reviewer
August 16th 2023


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 3.2

Album is out this Friday, Aug 18th.



Band is great - even if I feel like this album doesn't quite live up to the potential of this sound they're working on, I get the feeling their next release will be killer.



These reviews where you don't dislike but also don't love the album are challenging to write, therefore the Sput meme summary.

Azazzel
August 17th 2023


937 Comments


heard some of this on the yt algo. potential for sure but there's a lot of bands doing this sound rn

Pikazilla
August 18th 2023


31198 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

if you want good meloldeath from this year, just listen to majesties and astralborne

Azazzel
August 18th 2023


937 Comments


or my reviewed Velaraas album (: like both of those records tho ya
enjoyed this enough to spin again this morning. actually really like the post-metal vocal/wall of noise juxtaposed with the symphonic elements. maybe a bit cramped at 33m? not necessarily the songs themselves but their sound seems befitting a grander canvas.
Ne Ob fans should def dig this

Willie
Moderator
August 21st 2023


20311 Comments

Album Rating: 3.4

I've never heard their first album, but I really liked this one. I like the atmospheric aspects, so I'm not sure if I'd enjoy the other one as much or not, but I'm going to give it a try.



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