Empros

{{Infobox album

| name = Empros

| type = studio

| artist = Russian Circles

| cover = Russian Circles - Empros.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2011|10|25}}

| recorded = April 2011 at Phantom Manor in Chicago, Illinois

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Post-metal{{cite web | url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/06/24/40-best-post-metal/5/ | title=The 40 best post-metal records ever made | work=Fact | date=24 June 2015 | accessdate=26 June 2015 | author=Jahdi, Robin}}

| length = {{Duration|m=41|s=05}}

| label = Sargent House

| producer = Brandon Curtis

| prev_title = Geneva

| prev_year = 2009

| next_title = Memorial

| next_year = 2013

}}

Empros is the fourth studio album by American post-metal band Russian Circles. The album was released on October 25, 2011 through Sargent House. This is Russian Circles' first album released solely through Sargent House; for their first three albums, Sargent House released limited edition vinyl copies, while CD and digital copies were handled by either Suicide Squeeze Records or Flameshovel Records.

Background

Russian Circles began writing Empros in January 2011. In April 2011, the group entered Phantom Manor studios in Chicago, Illinois with producer Brandon Curtis of The Secret Machines and Interpol, who also previously produced the group's 2009 album Geneva. Bassist Brian Cook described the band's mindset for creating Empros as trying to "make the same ebb and flow of our live set happen on the record, with more constructive dynamics and dramatic bridging between songs." The album was also described in a press release from Sargent House as being Russian Circles' heaviest album to date.

On September 28, 2011 the song "Mládek" was made available for online streaming and free download. The title of the song was named after Tomáš Mládek, Russian Circles' European tour bus driver.

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| MC = 86/100

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A−

| rev3 = CraveOnline

| rev3score = 10/10

| rev4 = Drowned in Sound

| rev4score = 8/10

| rev5 = MusicOMH

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 7.7/10

| rev7 = PopMatters

| rev7score = 9/10

| rev8 = Rock Sound

| rev8score = 9/10

| rev9 = The Skinny

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = 7/10

}}

Empros was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 86 based on 14 reviews. In particular, many writers noted how refined the band's sound had become in its evolution. In his review for Spin, critic Christopher R. Weingarten wrote, "Though crunching at their heaviest, the band still shines brightest when they edge toward indie-rock approachability."

=Accolade=

class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:0em 1em 1em 0pt"

!Year

!Publication

!Country

!Accolade

!Rank

!class=unsortable|

align=center|2011

Obscure Sound

United States

| "Best Albums of 2011"

align=center|30

{{cite web|title=Best Albums of 2011: #30 to #21|url=https://www.obscuresound.com/2011/12/best-albums-of-2011-30-to-21/|website=Obscure Sound|date=8 December 2011|publisher=Obscure Sound|accessdate=June 6, 2021}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Empros track listing

| total_length = 41:05

| title1 = 309

| length1 = 8:50

| title2 = Mládek

| length2 = 7:40

| title3 = Schiphol

| length3 = 6:16

| title4 = Atackla

| length4 = 7:27

| title5 = Batu

| length5 = 6:17

| title6 = Praise Be Man

| length6 = 4:27

}}

Note

On the digital version, "Batu" spans 10:06 with a drone transition.{{discuss|Duration of "Batu"}}

Personnel

Empros personnel adapted from Allmusic.

Russian Circles

Brian Cook − bass guitar, vocals on "Praise Be Man"
Mike Sullivan − guitar
Dave Turncrantz − drums

Additional musicians

Phil Karnats − accordion, cello

Production and recording

Brandon Curtis − production, engineering, mixing
Joe Lambert − mastering
Mike Lust − engineering
Russian Circles − production

Artwork and design

Sonny Kay − album layout
Dave Turncrantz − album photo

Charts

Chart (2011) ! Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{{album chart\|BillboardHardRock\|18\|artist=Russian Circles\|accessdate=January 1, 2018}}
{{album chart\|BillboardHeatseekers\|8\|artist=Russian Circles\|accessdate=January 1, 2018}}
{{album chart\|BillboardVinyl\|9\|artist=Russian Circles\|accessdate=January 1, 2018}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web| last = Tsai| first = Matthew| title = Russian Circles Writing| work = AbsolutePunk| date = January 13, 2011| url = http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2122262| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130221132122/http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2122262| url-status = dead| archive-date = February 21, 2013| accessdate = August 19, 2011}}

{{cite web| last = Heaney| first = Gregory| title = Empros - Russian Circles : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/empros-mw0002210689| accessdate = June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web| last = Heaney| first = Gregory| title = Empros – Credits| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/empros-mw0002210689/credits| accessdate = June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/russian-circles-empros-1798170211|title=The A.V. Club Review|website=The A.V. Club|last=Heller|first=Jason|date=January 11, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web |title=Russian Circles Begins Recording New Album |work=Blabbermouth.net |publisher=Roadrunner Records |date=April 1, 2011 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=156198 |accessdate=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405173115/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=156198 |archivedate=April 5, 2011 }}

{{cite web| last = Robinson| first = Iann| title = Review: Empros| work = CraveOnline| publisher = Atomic Online| date = October 11, 2011| url = http://www.craveonline.com/music/reviews/175940-review-russian-circles-empros| accessdate = October 25, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111023231410/http://www.craveonline.com/music/reviews/175940-review-russian-circles-empros| archive-date = October 23, 2011| url-status = dead}}

{{cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/16653/reviews/4144031|title=Drowned in Sound Review|website=Drowned in Sound|last=Brown|first=Michael|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2021|archive-date=June 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606074355/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/16653/reviews/4144031|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web| last = Harris| first = Chris| title = Russian Circles Working On New Album| work = Gun Shy Assassin| date = April 1, 2011| url = http://gunshyassassin.com/news/russian-circles-working-on-new-album/| accessdate = August 19, 2011| url-status = usurped| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200317/http://gunshyassassin.com/news/russian-circles-working-on-new-album/| archivedate = October 29, 2013}}

{{cite web| title = Russian Circles album set for release| work = LambGoat| date = August 18, 2011| url = https://lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=16691| accessdate = August 19, 2011}}

{{cite web| title = Empros Reviews| work = Metacritic| publisher = CBS Interactive| url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/empros| accessdate = October 28, 2011}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/russian-circles-empros|title=MusicOMH Review|website=MusicOMH|last=Shepherd|first=Sam|date=November 14, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web| last = Thompson| first = Paul| title = Review: Empros| work = Pitchfork| date = November 11, 2011| url = https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16009-empros//| accessdate = June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/148715-russian-circles-empros-2495949627.html|title=PopMatters Review|website=PopMatters|last=Ezell|first=Brice|date=November 1, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web| last = Yancey| first = Bryne| title = Russian Circles detail 'Empros'| work = Punknews.org| date = August 18, 2011| url = https://www.punknews.org/article/43989/russian-circles-detail-empros| accessdate = June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web| last = Taylor| first = Darren| title = Chicago post-rock heroes return with stellar fourth album...| work = Rock Sound| date = October 28, 2011| url = https://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/read/russian-circles-empros?| accessdate = June 6, 2021}}

{{cite magazine| last = Sundermann| first = Eric| title = Exclusive Download: Russian Circles Premiere Dramatic Track 'Mladek'| magazine = Rolling Stone| publisher = Wenner Media| date = September 28, 2011| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/exclusive-download-russian-circles-premiere-dramatic-track-mladek-88577/| accessdate = September 29, 2011}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/russian-circles-empros|title=The Skinny Review|work=The Skinny|last=Cusack|first=Chris|date=November 1, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2021}}

{{cite web| last = Weingarten| first = Christopher R.| title = Review: Empros| work = Spin| url = https://www.spin.com/2011/10/russian-circles-empros-sargent-house/| accessdate = June 6, 2021}}

}}

Category:2011 albums

Category:Russian Circles albums

Category:Sargent House albums