It took me a while to start putting words to the screen for the new Circa Survive album, Descensus. The five-piece post-hardcore rock band from Philadelphia have been kicking butt and taking names throughout their nearly ten years of existence, with each album becoming progressively better and more fine-tuned.
With Anthony Green’s absolutely insane vocals, and the band’s ability to constantly take chances with their musical direction, the band is able to advance exponentially.
With their newest album they have once again raised themselves to a new level of musicality, and it doesn’t take long to be convinced as such. Literally, the first song, “Schema” is so loud, aggressive and fast that it takes you into its arms violently. With Anthony Green’s screeching vocals and abrasive passion, the song is able to kick off the album in one hell of a fashion.
The next track, “Child of The Dessert” slows down but allows Green’s vocals to be put on display (fortunately) as he also controls it to allow the song to be mood-altering and thought-provoking.
“Nesting in the thorn bush,
Blowing in the breeze
Calculate the pattern
That is causing my disease
Child of the desert,
Never had a name
Climax on the concept of eliminating pain”
While the song is mid-tempo to slow throughout the entirety, near the end the song speeds up and showcases some incredible guitar work leading to a slick breakdown and some incredible yelling on Green’s part.
Following quickly behind, the track, “Always begin” is a catchy, powerful rock song that employs deep, profound drums.
The album is an incredible endeavor, one that is able to be experimental, thoughtful, and catchy at the same time. Again though, what is most pressing is CS’s ability to expand their horizons and push themselves past what they’ve done before.
“Nesting Dolls” is a slow, alluring track that harbors fabulous lyrics-one that would sound too slow in previous CS albums.
“When we were young and everything's magical
Then it all disappeared, I wasn't sure
But you were persistent and I was so drawn to it”
And yet, the song “Phantom” is a drastically different work, one that almost sounds Jazzy but in a new, unique sort of way.
The last song, “Descensus” is a great way to close out the album as it starts out fast and brash but ends in a very thoughtful, very slow, methodical fashion; very much like the album itself.