Album Review: Magic Circle – Departed Souls (20 Buck Spin)

Magic Circle’s self-titled debut hit the true doom scene like a revelation in 2013. Without hype or hyperbole the band effortlessly invoked fundamental rock n roll truths putting their own stamp on early Heavy Metal darkness. Joining 20 Buck Spin for follow-up ‘Journey Blind’, they again offered that unmistakable classic sound with natural unforced evolution.

On their third LP, ‘Departed Souls’, Magic Circle present an expansive hard rock vision, adorning their signature Doom with seamless psych and prog ornamentation. It will be released on March 29th 2019 via 20 Buck Spin.

Departed Souls reveals a Magic Circle delving more deeply into ‘70s sounds, expanding farther outward from the primordial matter of their birth. Heavy Sabbathian riffs abound, but Magic Circle opens up, stretches out, exposing different shades that recall the moody peaks and valleys of the classic hard rock LPs of that era.

Man, oh man…there is no ignoring the Sabbath vibes this new album from Magic Circle gives off. Not just in the riffs but the vocals that are as enlightening as they are solemn. It continues to show the influence that Sabbath have on modern heavy metal and doom in general.

However, as much as Departed Souls resembles the metal legends, Magic Circle definitely infuse it with their own style and sound. For starters the extra step that presents itself in the title track gives the doomy riffs that little more bite. Then we have the super-heaviness of Valley of the Lepers that transforms into a dirty groove-led tune as all comparisons to the Sabbath are pretty much completely forgotten.

There’s something so addictive about this album and the further we go along with Magic Circle on this journey the more gripping it becomes.

The eastern influences of A Day Will Dawn Without Nightmares gives it an other-worldly yet relaxing vibe. Whereas Nightland’s more straight-forward rock and roll approach is bouncy and exciting.

It’s not all solid gold though as Gone Again is dreary sounding and uneventful and the very short penultimate guitar melody of Bird City Blues is pointless. Departed Souls does end strongly though as Hypnotized lays down some dark heaviness with sorrowful sounding vocals.

A better first half, Magic Circle haven’t quite managed to create overall greatness but when they get it right, as they often do, it’s untouchable in the gloomy doom areas.

Magic Circle – Departed Souls Full Track Listing:

1. Departed Souls
2. I’ve Found My Way To Die
3. Valley Of The Lepers
4. A Day Will Dawn Without Nightmares
5. Nightland
6. Gone Again
7. Bird City Blues
8. Hypnotized

The album can be ordered now over on Bandcamp.