Review: Wicked The Underworld, Camden – August 25th, 2026 Reviewer / Photographer – Phil Honley I enjoyed the high-energy performance of Wicked from Rochester, New York, last night at The Underworld, Camden. This was the bands first date on their Wild In The Isles Tour supporting Kings Of Thrash. The four members, being Chad Michael on Lead vocals and guitar, Danny (Danny Martin / Danny […]
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The song features super catchy vocals, amazing guitar riffs and a few surprises, in terms of production and arrangement. Speaking of that, the song sounds absolutely fantastic. Guitar production provided here by Mike Plotnikoff (3 Days Grace, Halestorm, All-American Rejects, etc) and Phil Pluskota (Signs of the Swarm, King Conquer, etc). And the mastering is made by Vlado Meller (Linking Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc). A quality song, amazingly performed bu the band and that will get stuck in your head.
Give it a go by clicking on the Spotify player below and follow DONEFOR if you like what you hear.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8Z0QnpPe7wF_xBDdUiqGA| Band: | Russian Circles |
| Release: | Nine |
| Genre: | Post-Metal |
| Country: | America |
| Release Date: | 28th of August, 2026 |
| Released via | Sargent House |
What is the best way to climb high mountains? Besides keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the goal, you need a good starting point. If that starting point is poor, or rather, poorly chosen, getting started becomes unnecessarily difficult. Bands that have been around for a long time and have built up a fairly extensive back catalogue can have a similar effect. There are simply too many albums to choose from, opinions on that very selection are too diverse, and one of the biggest problems is surely: “Where do I start?” With Nine, Russian Circles are releasing their ninth album, and it is making a case for itself as a possible starting point for new listeners.
“Borehole” and “Empath” roll through the front door, sometimes at a brisk pace, sometimes more leisurely, and set the tone for the trio’s new album. Kurt Ballou has produced the record once again. Since [celebrating its tenth anniversary this year], he has been shaping the post-metal trio’s ideas into sound at his GodCity Studios. Ever since the aforementioned producer has been behind the controls, the sound has noticeably moved further towards metal than towards the “post-” prefix. It has a strong live feel to it and is stripped down, though this does not diminish its impact. “Seventh Seal” and “E2” are every bit as dynamic as they are brutal, making them prime examples when it comes to describing the sound of Kurt Ballou and Russian Circles.
The crescendo is one of the defining elements of the post-metal genre. “Eluvial” and “Meridian” form the epicentre of Nine. Eight and a half and seven minutes, respectively, of what one understands post-metal to be: atmosphere, a carefully built arc of tension, and a finale that either resembles the view from a conquered mountain peak or the deep breath after a long ascent. “Arletta” offers something of a brief moment to let the mind wander before “Seventh Seal” brings the album – much like its predecessor – to an end with a “chunk”, both figuratively and literally.
So, is Nine a good new entry point into Russian Circles’ discography? One of Russian Circles’ strengths is that there is no ONE album that defines the band. There is no album in their discography that towers above all the others. For more than 20 years, the band has managed to consistently release music that is at least very good. Consistency and conviction without repetition and without contradicting their own identity. Nine stands firmly and confidently within this tradition and will be a good starting point for some new fans looking to approach the mountain range that is Russian Circles’ body of work.
SP’s Ripper hits with a raw alt-punk garage energy, balancing jangly guitar work with an emotionally exposed vocal performance. The guitar hook gives the track an immediate melodic pull, while the locked-in bass and drums keep everything moving with a restless, forward-driving momentum. Beneath the rough-edged surface, there is a strong sense of heartbreak and vulnerability, especially as the arrangement builds toward its more dramatic bridge. The contrast between the furious instrumentation and the personal subject matter gives the song extra weight, while its scrappy production keeps the performance feeling direct and unfiltered. A bruised, buzzing garage-rock anthem where heartbreak gets turned into pure forward motion.
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