Russian Circles

An experimental instrumental band rooted in post-rock and post-metal influences, Russian Circles formed in 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. Childhood playmates Mike Sullivan and Dave Turncrantz had previously performed together in another instrumental act, Dakota/Dakota, and they partnered with former Riddle of Steel drummer Dave Turncrantz before recording Russian Circles' first release, the self-titled Russian Circles EP. After signing with Flameshovel Records, the band released its debut album, Enter, in May 2006. Colin DeKuiper left the lineup in 2007 and was replaced by Brian Cook, who joined the group for 2008's Station. The album reached Number 36 on US Heatseekers Albums, with the follow-up record Geneva hitting Number 24 in 2009. Russian Circles' popularity continued to climb with albums like Empros, which cracked the Top 10 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart and reached Number 20 on Billboard's US Top Hard Rock Albums chart in 2011. Several years later, Guidance became the band's first release to reach the Top 10 of the Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Now known in post-rock circles at home as well as abroad, Russian Circles reached Number 40 on the Swiss Albums chart and Number 59 on the Scottish Albums chart with 2019's Blood Year. Gnosis, the band's eighth studio record, followed in 2022.