Circa Survive Drops 6th LP: "The Amulet"
Philly band Circa Survive has released their sixth album earlier this week, "The Amulet," under Hopeless Records. Circa Survive hasn't made music since 2014's "Descensus." Instead, frontman Anthony Green released his solo "Pixie Queen" album, and the band has been on a string of tours, most to celebrate the ten-year anniversaries of their early albums. With "Juturna" and "On Letting Go" tours wrapped up, we then got a summer of west coast shows with AFI. The band has been busy, so I don't know where they were hiding "The Amulet," because this album is something so new and so unbelievably good. It's like Circa times ten. It's always an anxious wait when a band releases an album past five, because what else could they come up with? How could it be better than anything else they've done?
Circa Survive is one of those bands who always exceeds expectations. I've never been disappointed by them. This album has that key sound that makes this band so recognizable, but there's also an overwhelming sense of perfection within these songs. Singer Anthony Green's voice is better than I've ever heard it. He's a singer who goes through periods of absolute vocal highs and lows, and "The Amulet" is one of those high peaks. In the recent live performances of his I've seen, it's so obvious that he's been taking care of his voice. Circa has - mostly - drifted from the heavy scream sound into something more polished and melodic, which lends itself immensely to the output of the vocals on everyone's part. That heaviness is still there in some aspects, because it's just a part of who this band is, but still, Green sounds better than he has in a long, long time.
Early fans of the band always hope that the next album will sound like something reminiscent of their 2005 debut "Juturna," just to bring it back. If you know this album, then you just know what that sound is. "Juturna" changed the game when it was released. It's an outstanding work. But, this album reminds me more of their 2014 release, "Descensus." While the lyrical specificity and introspection has been a constant theme through all of Circa's work, it's that sound that has matured the most. There are elements of classic Circa in there, but better. There's a definite sense of growth within this album, which definitely comes from the member's personal lives as well as their continual close relationship as musicians.
It's not a secret that frontman Green has struggled with substance abuse in the past, which is what lent itself to the conception and writing of "Descensus," and where that tonal shift came from. It's a sad album, without a question. There's something similar in "The Amulet." It has very obvious dark elements. But while "Descensus" was the lowest low point, "The Amulet" talks of that upward climb back to self. It almost feels like a "Descensus: Part II."
The track list goes:
1. Lustration
2. Never Tell a Soul
3. Premonition of the Hex
4. Tunnel Vision
5. At Night It Gets Worse
6. Stay
7. Rites of Investiture
8. The Hex
9. Flesh and Bone
10. The Amulet
The band begins their fall tour on November 2nd in California, co-headlining with Thrice. They'll be in Philly at The Electric Factory for two nights on November 24th and 25th, and this lineup is pretty close to iconic. Circa and Thrice will also be joined by Chon and Balance and Composure. If you're a fan of the genre, go. If you've never seen a Circa Survive show, go. It's an indescribable experience.
You can stream "The Amulet" everywhere now.