Circa Survive

Held together by the unearthly vocals of ex-Saosin front-man Anthony Green, Circa Survive is equally aided by the stellar guitar work of Colin Frangicetto (ex-This Day Forward). Combined with the talents of an additional guitarist and rhythm section, the band’s full-length debut is a roller coaster mash-up of genres and influences, fluidly colliding to form a cohesive whole. Far less heavy then any of the members’ previous bands (which also include hardcore act Taken), Circa Survive is a curious, morphing beast. While the metal riffing of This Day Forward is evident on tracks like "Wish Resign,” slower number such as "The Glorious Nosebleed” focus more on vocal melodies than riffs, and with the brilliant performance offered by Green, these are the tracks that truly raise this album to impressive creative heights. Like a hardcore castrati, Green’s vocals are unnerving in their range, which can be equally soothing in their gentleness and unsettling in their inhumanly high qualities. However, even the greatest of voices would be lost without the songs and music to provide a place for it to shine, and on Juturna, all of the elements seem to coalesce to create that perfect home.