Here we are, I’m going to write about A Sermon in Tongues by the black/death metal band Circular Ruin. The album is one of my favourite releases of the year. It was a wonderful discovery I made last January. The band, hailing from Uppsala, Sweden, formed in 2019 and released their first EP, Future Graves, in 2023. They then released their debut album, A Sermon in Tongues, in 2026 via the label Vendetta Records on digital, CD and vinyl.
A Sermon in Tongues is an album that sets its dark and sinister atmosphere from the very first track, No Solace (Intro). This atmosphere persists throughout the seven tracks, totaling 36:03. The album is a torrent of violence, striking a balance between fast-paced, raw rhythms, as on The Altering Altar and heavier ones as on Perisher. And the band masters this approach on the track The Storm I Keep Within, which shifts between the two. But it's on Ropes to Salvation that the band truly reinforces this approach by playing with alternating tempos.
The guitars are tight and unleash an avalanche of violence, as illustrated by the second track, The Altering Altar. There are shifts in tempo and sharp transitions. Added to this violence are a few sinister melodies and solos, such as on Nocturnum from 1:51 onwards and again from 2:48. The drums are striking, driving the fierce rhythm of the guitars and adding blast beats that accentuate this intensity. In my opinion, the drumming really stands out on tracks such as The Storm I Keep Within, particularly at the start of the track with its catchy opening, or the blast beats from 4:07 onwards. Furthermore, on Ropes to Salvation, the drumming is ceremonial and tribal. Certain hardcore influences can be also detected in the drumming.
The vocals are piercing and take on a diabolical form. They reach their peak on tracks such as Perisher. But it was on The Storm I Keep Within that I particularly enjoyed the vocals, ranging from growls to a high-pitched scream from 2:18 onwards and whispers from 2:31. I’d also like to mention the vocal performance on Nocturnum and A Dream of Thirst.
My favourite moments and tracks: on Perisher, I liked the composition from 2:01 onwards, and then there’s the dark atmosphere that sets in from 2:38. The track The Storm I Keep Within is one of my favourites for its well-crafted structure, its fast-paced, heavy rhythm and its remarkable vocal performance. There’s also Ropes to Salvation with its atmosphere, striking a balance between a heavy, sinister, tribal rhythm and sudden bursts of intensity. I also enjoyed the composition on ‘A Dream of Thirst from 2:56 onwards.
With their debut album A Sermon in Tongues, the Swedish band Circular Ruin have released an album that I find very well crafted. It blends the raw aggression of black metal with melodic death metal (though the melodies aren’t particularly prominent). An impressive debut album that leaves me looking forward to the band’s future releases. Cheers!!
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