Russian Circles

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Russian Circles

| image = Russian Circles Band.png

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| alt =

| caption = Russian Circles (left to right): Mike Sullivan, Dave Turncrantz, Brian Cook

| background = group_or_band

| alias =

| origin = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = {{start date|2004}}–present

| label = Flameshovel, Sargent House, Suicide Squeeze

| associated_acts = Botch, These Arms Are Snakes, Sumac, Riddle of Steel, Dakota/Dakota

| website = {{URL|russiancircles.com}}

| current_members = Mike Sullivan
Dave Turncrantz
Brian Cook

| past_members = Colin DeKuiper

}}

Russian Circles is an American instrumental post-metal band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was originally formed by childhood friends Mike Sullivan and Dave Turncrantz after their previous musical projects dissolved. After parting ways with their original bass player Colin DeKuiper in 2007, the trio was rounded out by Brian Cook. The band has gained widespread recognition based on a series of critically acclaimed albums and extensive international touring. Their name is taken from a drill exercise used in ice hockey, a sport Sullivan and Turncrantz grew up playing in their original hometown of St. Louis.

History

Russian Circles was formed in late 2004 by guitarist Mike Sullivan and bassist Colin DeKuiper (both formerly of instrumental band Dakota/Dakota), they quickly recruited drummer Dave Turncrantz, formerly of St. Louis band Riddle of Steel.

In the autumn of 2007, it was announced that the band had parted ways with Colin DeKuiper. As a result, the bass tracks on their second album, titled Station, were handled by ex-Botch/These Arms Are Snakes bass player Brian Cook, who then joined the band permanently.{{cite web|url=http://lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=9650 |title=Russian Circles signs w/ Suicide Squeeze | News |publisher=Lambgoat |date=October 26, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2013}} The group's third full-length, Geneva, was released on October 20, 2009 and reached No. 24 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/369319/russian+circles/chart |title=Russian Circles - Chart history |publisher=Billboard |access-date=November 22, 2013}}

In 2011, Russian Circles signed to Sargent House who had previously only exclusively released the band's albums on limited edition vinyl. Their fourth studio album Empros was released on October 25, 2011. A supporting tour with Deafheaven followed the release.{{cite web| last = Kraus| first = Brian| title = Deafhaven announce tour with Russian Circles| work = Alternative Press| date = October 8, 2011| url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/deafhaven_announce_tour_with_russian_circles| access-date =October 13, 2011}} In May 2013 the group began recording their fifth studio album, produced by Brandon Curtis.{{cite web| title = Russian Circles Begin Recording of LP 5 at Electrical Audio in Chicago| date = May 13, 2013| url = http://russiancircles.tumblr.com/post/50357433612/russian-circles-begin-recording-of-lp-5-at-electrical| access-date =May 15, 2013}} Memorial was released at the end of October 2013 and featured a guest-vocal by Chelsea Wolfe.{{cite web|author=Jon Blistein |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/russian-circles-brood-on-meditative-memorial-song-premiere-20130913 |title=Stream Russian Circles' 'Memorial,' Featuring Chelsea Wolfe | Music News |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=November 22, 2013}} Together they embarked on a co-headlining UK/European tour in the fall.{{cite web|url=http://sargenthouseeu.tumblr.com/post/64334820929/russian-circles-chelsea-wolfe-tour-selling-out-get |title=Russian Circles & Chelsea Wolfe Tour Selling out Get Tickets in Advance | Sargent House Europe |publisher=Sargenthouseeu.tumblr.com |access-date=November 22, 2013}}

Russian Circles released its sixth studio album Guidance on August 5, 2016 through Sargent House. The album was produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge fame.{{cite web| last = Adams| first = Gregory| title = Russian Circles Return with 'Guidance'| work = Exclaim!| date = May 17, 2016| url = http://exclaim.ca/music/article/russian_circles_return_with_guidance| access-date = May 17, 2016}} On August 1, 2019, they released their seventh studio album, Blood Year, recorded at GodCity Studio in Salem and Steve Albini's Electrical Audio Studio in Chicago and again produced by Kurt Ballou.{{cite web|last= Pierre |first=Alphonse |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/russian-circles-announce-new-album-blood-year-share-new-song-listen/ |title=Russian Circles Announce New Album Blood Year, Share New Song: Listen|website=Exclaim! |date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sargenthouse.com/news/blog/album-of-the-day-russian-circles-blood-year-bandcamp|title=Album of the Day: Russian Circles, "Blood Year" // Bandcamp"|website=Sargent House|date=August 2, 2019|access-date=August 9, 2019}}

The band's eighth album Gnosis was released on August 19, 2022 via Sargent House. It was engineered and mastered by Kurt Ballou.{{cite web |last1=Sacher |first1=Andrew |title=Russian Circles announce new album 'Gnosis' & world tour, share "Conduit" |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/russian-circles-announce-new-album-gnosis-world-tour-share-conduit/ |website=Brooklyn Vegan |date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=13 July 2022}}