Review Summary: Circa Survive being Circa Survive.
Violent Waves is an amalgamation of contrasting musical aesthetics. It fluctuates from aggressive bursts of passionate musicianship to trancing soundscapes that add an ethereal ambience to the music. And then, of course, we have the enrapturing voice of Anthony Green who adjusts his singing style to harmonize thematically with which ever atmosphere is being evoked by the instrumental section. In retrospective, the album follows the same formula Circa Survive has operated under since their formation. Even the surrealistic artwork that decorates their albums is always done by the same artist, Esao Andrews. In other words, Circa Survive has never been a band that is synonymous with change. There have certainly been minor renovations in sound that can be perceived in each album, but they've never strayed too far from their distinct signature style.
The opening track,
"Birth of the Economic Hit Man", is very reminiscent of Juturna's overture,
"Holding Someone's Hair Back". Not necessarily in its musical style, but the two share a distinctly similar purpose. It's another mood setter. A slow descension into the environment Circa Survive wants to take us into. The song is orchestrated under the typical aesthetic that has been defined as the classic Circa Survive sound. Guitarists, Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom, demonstrate their electrifying synergy as they direct the music with their integrated cosmic riffs. Anthony Green's voice is as impacting as ever. Whether he's drawing us in with his soothing and gentle expressions, or bombarding us with his shrill cries of frustration. The progressive aspects of
"Birth of the Economic Hit Man" really symbolize the concept of Violent Waves. It's an album that grows on you, rather than aspiring to be as grandeur as possible.
Though in every Circa Survive album, we will always find one instantly accessible song. A seductive piece meant to allure and coax the listener with an appetite for more. Like Juturna's
"Act Appalled" or Blue Sky Noise's
"Get Out",
"Sharp Practice" is a continuation of that tradition. A persuasive statement on its own assuring us that Circa Survive have yet to lose their touch.
"Sharp Practice" exudes an infectiously powerful melodic arrangement, particularly emanated by its prominent guitar riffs that grasp our attention with ease. As we progress further into the album, we find that Violent Waves becomes much more abstract with each song. The album really displays all of the different styles and influences that nurtured the band's inception. The compellingly dynamic performance in
"The Lottery", alludes the complex and enrapturing intensity of early hardcore acts like Fugazi and At The Drive-In, who initially inspired Circa Survive's sound.
"Think of Me When They Sound" is a reflection of the decorative progressive textures that are always eminent in their music. The song accentuates a dreamy psychedelic atmosphere that invites us to alleviate our senses by losing ourselves in its hypnotic soundscape. And then we have songs like
"Phantasmagoria", which amalgamates both musical styles into one spellbinding musical elixer.
As we float along through the climactic ambience in the final moments of
"I'll Find a Way", we realize just how little Circa Survive has grown. Instead of setting out to discover new and different musical techniques to incorporate into their sound, we find the band regressing back to the styles of their previous efforts for inspiration. In Blue Sky Noise we saw Circa Survive showing a desire to evolve, of course it wasn't anything too drastic, but it was a noticeable change. It took the psychedelic mannerisms of Juturna and the loud distorted aggression of On Letting Go, while fusing them with a new direction in mind. It was an album that was much more melodic than its predecessors, emphasizing on radiant euphonic harmonies that made it all the more accessible. Violent Waves is the exact opposite. It expresses no real progression, but it also isn't an exact replica of past ventures. Its music exudes a dissonant sound that expands on both the vigorous traits of Circa Survive and the atmospheric flourishes that they love to indulge us with. Don't expect anything revolutionary within the content of this album. Whether it is Anthony Green's singing or the music that ornaments his vocals in the background, there is really nothing here that is particularly unfamiliar. But that is by no means a bad thing, Violent Waves is a very entertaining album. One that really embraces attributes from Progressive rock, featuring songs that often contain layers of innovative sonic textures. Inevitably, this makes the album a bit of a grower in comparison to its predecessors, but it will be sure to satisfy any Circa Survive fan.
