The Circle Ends Here
The Division Ahead

It is always a pleasure to see how nowadays even Italy can be considered up to speed with much more renowned music scenes when it comes to the record industry.

The Friuli-based band The Circle Ends Here are certainly an excellent example of what was just mentioned, a very young band (average age twenty) decidedly strange due to their unusual inclination to avoid easy clichés and current trends. The conservatory has provided them with important input on how to conceive music, significantly more mature and rich in details compared to what is usually offered by their peers (and not only).

From these bases came "The Division Ahead," an unusual debut given its quality and the creativity these musicians have put at its service. A complex work in form, structured and based on medium-long duration sound structures (most of the tracks comfortably exceed four minutes), a double-edged sword that these musicians use to their best advantage by creating scenarios and tracks rich in pathos and intensity. It is difficult to find a definition that accurately reflects what this band offers, at times it could be described as post-hardcore, at times as post-rock, or metal. What is most surprising is the ease with which these musicians can extricate themselves from seemingly complex situations with extreme ease, through a riff, a break, or more simply by bringing to life unthinkable rhythmic upheavals with a clear mind.

Listening to tracks like "Remiss" and "Porcelain" is a great pleasure, especially for those accustomed to appreciating tracks loaded with instrumental technique and original solutions. The Circle Ends Here are rare, whose only limit is perhaps dictated by the lack of experience that sometimes makes them go beyond, breaking through certain schemes that—willingly or not—remain essential for those who have chosen such complex paths. The ungraceful vocals at first impact only partially strike, but it is just an initial impression because after some listening it has the ability to drag the listener into that ocean of emotions put on paper by a pen unusual in the way it presents its ideas. The very well-curated graphics are the highlight of "The Division Ahead," a production that is largely tailor-made for those accustomed to comparing themselves with bands like Isis and The Ocean.

Let them be, destroy and recompose these The Circle Ends Here, because there is truly a lot of talent here.