Blood Year
Russian Circles · 2019
39 min · 7 tracks · post-metal
A dynamic interplay of heavy riffs and atmospheric soundscapes, intricately layered to create an immersive listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hunter Moon — Opening with a brief yet impactful arrangement, Hunter Moon sets the tone for the album’s exploration of tension and release, drawing listeners in immediately.
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Arluck — This track features intricate guitar work that develops into a powerful crescendo, showcasing the band's ability to blend delicate melodies with explosive dynamics.
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Kohokia — Kohokia stands out with its rhythmic complexity and shifting tempos, illustrating the band's knack for creating a cinematic experience through instrumental storytelling.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively balances heaviness and melody, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a heavy, driving riff in 'Hunter Moon' that sets a dynamic tone, followed by atmospheric layers introduced in 'Arluck'.
- The final track, 'Quartered', concludes with an extended ambient outro that contrasts sharply with the preceding heaviness.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. 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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- immersive soundscapes for deep focus
- dynamic shifts in pacing
- short bursts of intensity
- cathartic release through heaviness
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- avoid complex layered compositions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2019, Blood Year marks Russian Circles' sixth studio album following the critically acclaimed Guidance from 2016. At this point in their career, the band has solidified their position within the post-metal genre, continuing to evolve their sound while maintaining their signature instrumental approach.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pelican· Isis· Cult of Luna
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Hunter Moon 2:20
- 2 Arluck 6:33
- 3 Milano 6:36
- 4 Kohokia 7:19
- 5 Ghost on High 2:34
- 6 Sinaia 7:30
- 7 Quartered 6:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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