The Last One is the second full length release from Australian progressive metal act Circles, who now find themselves on Season Of Mist five years after their debut Infinitas. Chock full of variety and powerful performances, The Last One sees the current line-up of Ben Rechter (lead vocals, guitar), Ted Furuhashi (guitar, vocals), David Hunter (drums), and Drew Patton (bass, extreme vocals) firing on all cylinders, delivering an album that exudes complexity but also melody & atmosphere at the same time.
Opening cut "Winter" offers up djent styled passages of heavy bombast and intricate arrangements, while the moody "Breaker" sees a myriad of vocal styles combating brooding, atmospheric passages. The more lush "The Messenger" contains a fantastic vocal from Rechter, the band approaching Anathema with their plethora of soaring melodies, waves of synth washes, and crisp guitar riffs. "Resolution" recalls Pain of Salvation with its crooning vocal and slow building drama, while the frantic "Dream Sequence" once again sees those crushing djent styled guitar riffs and acrobatic drums coming back into play for a potent prog-metal attack. Also noteworthy is the ultra technical "Blueprints for a Great Escape", an easy recommendation for anyone into complex, bombastic, and melodic progressive metal.
With a nice selection of intricate, heavy, and groove laden progressive metal and some more emotional, melodic songs, The Last One is a very well rounded affair that sees Circles growing by leaps and bounds as songwriters and musicians. A new player on the scene is here folks, so don't miss this one!
Track Listing
1. Winter
2. Breaker
3. The Messenger
4. Arrival
5. Tether
6. Resolution
7. Dream Sequence
8. Renegade
9. Blueprints for a Great Escape
10. Alone With Ghosts
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