Russian Circles have long been at the forefront of instrumental post-metal and post-rock, pioneering a path through uncharted sonic terrain with a blend of crushing weight and ethereal grace. From their earliest days in Chicago’s experimental underground to their current status as globe-trotting instrumental ambassadors, Mike Sullivan (guitar), Dave Turncrantz (drums), and Brian Cook (bass) have elevated three-piece dynamics to an art form. Their music, a unique blend of prog expedition and metal maelstrom, defies easy categorization yet remains unmistakably their own, thanks to meticulous layering, dynamic mastery, and a steadfast commitment to genuine expression.
A Triumphant Tour with Pelican
This past spring, the band capped off a breathtaking 15-stop U.S. tour that saw them with support from Pelican, another titan of the instrumental heavy scene. From coast-to-coast dates in major cities and intimate venues alike, every night felt like a revelation as the bands traded seismic riffs and expansive atmospheres. Fans and critics alike lauded the precise sound production, the palpable energy in the room, the masterclass in lighting, and a palpable camaraderie onstage—testimony to two bands who have each helped define what instrumental heaviness can be when executed with vision and soul. Reflecting on the tour’s success, Dave Turncrantz notes, “Records are great, it’s super fun, but playing them live is super gratifying.”
The Next Chapter: Studio Plans for 2025
Russian Circles are eagerly anticipating their next creative chapter. “It’s about time that we—It’s been, what, three years since the last record? And I think we’re planning on trying to get something out by next year,” drummer Dave Turncrantz reveals with characteristic candor. Now three years removed from their last studio effort, the trio are both eager and methodical, letting ideas trickle out as song fragments before committing them to tape. “There are ideas, little drips of song fragments and ideas, but I think we’ll wait until the songs are fleshed out, where we know what actual instruments will be on them. But we’re not looking to add keytar or anything (laughs),” he notes, underscoring their focus on core strengths even as they explore new territory.
Enduring Through Change
For guitarist Mike Sullivan, the most significant source of pride remains how effortlessly the band has maintained its course over two decades. “We’re very fortunate as a band,” he reflects. “We’ve had unfortunate things happen, but when you’re a band that long, that’s going to happen. And we’re lucky nothing traumatic has happened. Really, all the stuff that happens, you realize, wasn’t too bad.”
His words underscore the deep mutual trust that allowed Brian to step in seamlessly back in 2007, transforming what could have been a crisis into a renewal of purpose. Dave adds a sobering perspective on current challenges: “It’s going to affect the music. Definitely. Because it’s like, it’s affecting all of our mental health already.” Brian Cook, meanwhile, grounds their longevity in humility: “I still think of us as just three dudes in a band.” This humility is a key part of their identity, making them relatable to their fans and fostering a sense of connection.
DIY Ethos / Artistic Liberty
Brian Cook himself emphasizes the creative freedom they enjoy as pioneers of instrumental post-metal/rock. “I think we can kind of do whatever we want,” he states. “We’ve always written very varied records … If anything, I think we’re a very fortunate band because we got in at a time when gas was still cheap, vans were still cheap, and there was still a thriving underground for bands that were touring, sleeping on floors, and doing that whole thing.” That incremental growth, he believes, has shielded them from the temptation to overthink or pander—allowing every album to remain an authentic snapshot of where they are as musicians and as individuals. He expands on this philosophy: “I don’t want to see an artist trying to appease a demographic; I want to see an artist who’s just like, where did this fucking person come from? How did this come out of this person? That’s just what I’m satisfied with.”
Indeed, Russian Circles’ trajectory has been marked by one breakthrough after another: from the dark, math-rock intensity of their debut EP to the expansive, orchestral textures of Geneva and onward through the crushing complexity of Empros and the introspective explorations of Memorial and Guidance. Each release has widened the aperture of what instrumental music can convey—anger, beauty, melancholy, euphoria—all without uttering a single word. Mike Sullivan elaborates on this emotional rawness: “Without vocals, we can share an emotion, but not a context or a lyrical theme. Anger is an authentic emotion, and if you can resonate with that, grea—because it’s not fake. It’s not like, oh, we’re trying to be intense.”
Eyes on the Next Horizon
Now, as they prepare to reconvene in the studio later in 2025, anticipation is high for how their sound will evolve. Will they lean further into the doom-laden riffs and urgent rhythms teased on Gnosis, or will they surprise us with unexpected instrumentation and novel textures? “We have enough shit going on on stage, we don’t want to overdo it (laughs),” Dave says. “So we’ll probably stick to our core, what we do best, you know, and then in studio, we’ll see what we add.” This sense of anticipation and the band’s openness to evolution is sure to excite their fans and keep them eagerly awaiting their next release.
Fueling the Creative Fire
Mike offers his glimpse into what keeps the creative fire burning after 20 years: “I’m a rabid fan of music … If you’re always hungry for it, there’s always something. No input, no output.” His beat-the-drum-of-new-discoveries ethos ensures that the trio’s collective palette remains fresh, informed by both the past and the farthest reaches of today’s underground scenes. Brian echoes this open-minded approach, noting that the thrill of finding inspiration in unexpected places—be it kraut-rock relics or emerging sounds from abroad—fuels their collective imagination.
He reflects on their evolving process: “As we get older, it seems a lot easier and more natural to express yourself with a muse. The whole notion of a muse, when I was a teenager, didn’t really exist for me. It was like, you’re mad, so you write an angry song, or you’re sad, so you write a sad song. It didn’t really feel like you were steering the ship so much as you were just letting your emotions take over, and the thought of having a vision and then putting the music into place around it just seemed like reverse engineering. But that’s not the case anymore..”
Fans can look forward to the next chapter in Russian Circles’ storied odyssey: a new album, tentatively slated for a 2026 release, promises to be as bold and boundary-pushing as anything in their catalog. If their recent triumphant tour with Pelican is any indicator, the trio’s live chemistry and studio prowess are stronger than ever. In a musical landscape too often defined by formulaic conventions, Russian Circles remain fearless innovators—true pioneers whose instrumental narratives continue to resonate in thrilling and unexpected ways.
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