[ rock/metal ]
There’s nothing circular about it. This instrumental Chicago trio likes to build up to some thundering riff or unleash some spindly, spidery anti-hook and then abandon it before anybody gets too comfortable. Unhindered by verses and choruses, they let tempo shifts and mood swings occur organically. Guitars and bass gather steam, then let it out. Drums gallop and lope with the changing tides. Judiciously deployed effects pedals blur the lines. And everything only moves in one direction. Russian Circles may well be making the soundtrack to a movie only they can see, a small metal orchestra taking cues from some madman conductor.
Fri., Aug. 17, 8:30 p.m., $15, with Chelsea Wolfe, Marriages, Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 877-435-9849, utphilly.com.
