VZ Magazine

Seven years. I have waited seven years to hear another album from the revolutionary post-hardcore outfit Circle Takes the Square. They haven’t even played a show in three years. It just seemed as if this crazy group was going to fade out as if a lost memory from your high school days. Fortunately, this November marks the release of the first part in their Decompostions project.  Decompostions, Vol. 1 (Chaper 1. Rites of Initiation) is a four-track album running just under 24 minutes that brings the brash and thrash of CTtS back to you in full-force.

Known for their interchanging male and female vocals, or should I say screaming, Circle Takes the Square are best described as

[c]overing more ground in one song than many bands do in an entire career, they frantically tore through different genres as male/female vocals screamed, spoke, whispered, sang and did just about anything else you could think of.

That said, Decompositions, Vol. 1 is just more argument for this point. Each track is a continuation of the previous and range from mellow chants to roaring cries. Their exploration into more vocal melodies is astounding considering the band is known for their brash cawing. Vocalists Drew Speziale and Kathy Stubelek are actually incredible singers as this new record definitely highlights.

The second and shortest track is one for the fans. “Spirit Narrative” brings me back to the high school days I mentioned earlier. Hearing this strange band scream about such serious concepts that I could not grasp at and as an adult have grown to understand. Now, my mind goes back and I am with them. I am with the words and the music. Holy shit is this song good. The changes and riffs and … well, it’s just great. When I first listened to this track, around the 21st second mark, I forgot where I was; enthralled with what was blasting into my ears. It’s a perfect center-piece for the album and really lays the groundwork for the last two songs, which also blew me away.

I cannot wait for the next chapter of the Decompositions project. This music is not for everyone, but it is absolutely easy to admire such great musicianship under morbid, yet somewhat-uplifting lyricism.  I highly recommend this and I wish I could write more but I haven’t stopped listening to this since I got it and it’s time to get back to that.