What makes As the Roots Undo by Circle Takes the Square notable?

The album received critical acclaim within the underground music community, often cited as a cornerstone of the screamo revival in the early 2000s. It has influenced countless bands in the genre and garnered attention for its innovative blend of melody and aggression, leading to a cult following. As the Roots Undo marked Circle Takes the Square's debut album, released in January 2004 after they formed in 2000. This album established their signature sound, blending poetic lyrics with aggressive musicality, setting the stage for their subsequent influence in the screamo and post-hardcore scenes.

How many songs are on As the Roots Undo?

As the Roots Undo has 8 tracks, running approximately 44 minutes.

As the Roots Undo

Circle Takes the Square · 2004

44 min · 8 tracks · screamo

An intense fusion of chaotic screamo and intricate post-hardcore, brimming with emotional urgency and complex instrumentation.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Same Shade as Concrete — This track encapsulates the album's emotional depth, intertwining raw vocals with intricate guitar work that showcases their unique sound.
→
In the Nervous Light — Offering a balance between melodic passages and intense crescendos, this track highlights their skillful dynamics and lyrical poignancy.
→
Kill the Switch — The lengthy composition delivers a relentless energy that underscores their ability to blend chaos with structure, making it a standout piece on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

65 /100

Treeline

Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

The album blends chaotic energy with intricate musicianship, establishing a distinct sound within its genre.

What we noticed

The album opens with a brief instrumental intro that sets a tense atmosphere before launching into the aggressive 'Same Shade as Concrete'.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Intro 0:55
2 Same Shade as Concrete 4:28
3 Crowquill 2:44
4 In the Nervous Light 6:17
5 Interview at the Ruins 5:09
6 Non‐Objective Portrait of Karma 6:42
7 Kill the Switch 9:33
8 A Crater to Cough In 8:15

What to play next

Listen next

Decompositions: Volume Number One

2012

Go back to

Document #13: Pyramids in Cloth

2002

Full Circle Takes the Square discography Artists like Circle Takes the Square

screamo

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata