Circle

Aptly named, Finland's Circle emerged in the early 1990s with an elliptical approach to experimental rock. Combining ambient, jazz, psychedelia, Krautrock, heavy metal, new wave, progressive, and post-rock, the group's mercurial sound is similar to English and U.S. post-rock and electronics-fueled instrumental acts such as <a href="spotify:artist:0ReGrqp2iQLy9fySkDCIDh">Loop</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0AaVWKgxiYuNNCZO8J3pNG">Surgery</a>, Trans-Am, and <a href="spotify:artist:3WggbHDpj4rPKbL97zG5MQ">Tortoise</a>, but has remained wildly idiosyncratic over the decades. They have released scores of EPs, LPs, and live albums since issuing their debut, Meronia, in 1994 -- their 32nd studio effort Terminal was issued in 2017 -- and have collaborated with a host of like-minded artists, including <a href="spotify:artist:29Mbw8R1q12GBgUd3ouzJi">Sunburned Hand of the Man</a> (2007's The Blaze Game) and <a href="spotify:artist:0VeQgI9lzgoOMszAOq0iml">Richard Dawson</a> (2021's Henki).

Circle was founded in 1991 in the west coast city of Piri by bassist and vocalist Jussi Lehtisalo, who remains the group's sole constant member. The band's earliest work leaned heavily into Krautrock textures and featured lyrics in an entirely self-created language. After the release of 2002's Sunrise, Circle solidified around a core lineup consisting of Lehtisalo, keyboardist/vocalist Mika Rättö, drummer Tomi Leppänen, and guitarist Janne Westerlund, and adopted a more progressive metal sound.

Although their material occasionally crosses over from a meandering grooves-and-textures romp to full-on prog rock and heavy metal overload, the group's most inventive moments have at least managed a fascinating balance of the two. In addition to their 50-plus albums under the Circle moniker, the band has spawned multiple spin-off groups, including <a href="spotify:artist:3Aym9HWMoIOubfMXll94Jp">Pharaoh Overlord</a>, Rättö ja Lehtisalo, Steel Mammoth, Doktor Kettu, and many more. They have also spent considerable time collaborating with others, with highlights arriving via the largely improvisational The Blaze Game (2007) with <a href="spotify:artist:29Mbw8R1q12GBgUd3ouzJi">Sunburned Hand of Man</a>, and the flora-themed Henki (2021) with English art-folk insurgent <a href="spotify:artist:0VeQgI9lzgoOMszAOq0iml">Richard Dawson</a>. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi