Russian Circles/Earthless - Camden Underworld 13/04/2010

Russian Circles/Earthless - Camden Underworld 13/04/2010


Although also an instrumental American rock band, opening act Earthless are a very different kettle of fish to the headliners. Vivacious drummer Mario Rubalcaba and hippie-haired bassist Mike Eginton are a juggernaut rhythm section that pins you to the wall with relentless rhythms whilst trigger-happy guitarist Isaiah Mitchell blazes over them with his Hendrix-toned bluesy shred. However, there is little for the listener to grab on to. Earthless's music is... well...somewhat ungrounded. They are highly skilled musicians, but the sheer length of their audience-losing improvisatory passages smacked of self-indulgence and left a non-plussed crowd yearning for some song-craft.
Russian Circles gave the audience exactly what they were missing. The vital distinction between the two bands' music is that Russian Circles' tracks have a purposeful, progressive narrative with emotional coherence and meaning. Each section of each track has its function in relation to the whole. Each member plays precisely what is required to serve the big picture, nothing more and nothing less, and Earthless seemed utterly incoherent by comparison. Where their performance was politely appreciated, Russian Circles’ performance was relished. Their class shone from the first moment, and the previously subdued audience responded as if they had been let out of a cage, leaping and moshing with abandon.
Russian Circles’ light-and-shade music is peppered with brutal metalesque percussive passages and balanced with moments of delicate melodic sensibility (although even these sections are always pulsing and rhythmic). There are obvious echoes of Master Of Puppets era Metallica in many of the riffs and a constant underlying Tool-like sinister eeriness - yet they have forged a unique sonic identity that transcends such influences. Aided by a very musical use of loops and sampling, the three members manage to produce an enormous sound, and tonight focused upon tracks from their recently released third album, Geneva. Brian Cook (bass and samples) may be the new boy (having joined in 2007), yet he is the dominating presence onstage, furiously conducting the music with his entire body.
None of the band addressed the audience at any stage, the gaps between each track filled with throbbing distorted tones washing around the room as the band members remained motionless until the cue for the next number. A shy wave from each as they left the stage was the only interaction.
No vocals, no banter, no ego. For Russian Circles, it really does seem to be all about the music.