Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Russian Circles - Gnosis (2022)

Instrumental music has a short shelf life for me usually.  I find it really does grate on me a lot of the time especially when it is done during an album that is predominantly showcased by lyrical tracks.  I am not talking about 00:58 duration interludes, intros or outros here though.  I am referring to lengthy tracks of usually repetitive and unimaginative passages that just do not seem to fit.  Bizarrely, when done well enough, I have no problems with whole albums of instrumental only tracks.  Russian Circles of course being pioneers of this style over many releases, yet somehow I had missed them altogether until 2019's Blood Year found its way into my world.

I bought Gnosis on vinyl based on the track Conduit as the only teaser I had heard, having enjoyed the amazing video that accompanies the track.  Whist I accept that for some, this is just an instrumental and in fact I do agree that any instrumental album can only go so far, at the same time Gnosis goes more than far enough for me.  It strikes me that it manages to speak to me a lot better than many lyrics do in all honesty because Gnosis for me is a very big, very loud and very interesting safety blanket.  My anxiety is off the chart this evening and the warm and welcoming structures of this album have more than proven their value in this thirty-nine-minute window of precious time sat alone trying to rationalise my racing brain.  There is a soothing balm to the fuzzy edges of those guitars and those dissonant chimes that ride over the waves of huge riffs are like the stardust in the rings of Saturn itself.

Mental health assistance aside, Gnosis is a success because it is not only so easy to connect with emotionally but also because it is so intelligently put together.  This sounds like a band in control of their influences and who are able to sustain a tight level of playing with what ever style they throw up.  Whether it is indie vibes, sludgey onslaughts or near death metal-paced riffing, Russian Circles have it all under control and have a knowledge of pace that is fundamental to the triumph of the record.  A psychedelic haziness hugs the edges of most tracks with a grasp that allows the progressive and post-metal structures to really build and thrive.  One of my favourite releases of 2022 so far.