Circa Survive – Violent Waves review

I feel like I may have written this review already… no wait, it’s just that they sound exactly like the last radio friendly emo band I recently listened too, and I’m sure a lot of other emo bands that I hope to never listen to. Violent Waves is Circa Survive’s third studio album, and first self-released record. I’m not actually trying to be rude (in fact this album is probably their best to date, a little more raw and true to their sound) however, the thing that these guys got wrong, is that they decided to release an emo/punk-rock album a decade too late.

Circa Survive’s previous two albums were both released under separate labels, which likely signed them because of their potential to appeal to mainstream radio, which is correct (to a certain extend, since Circa Survive is hardly a household name). However, for whatever reason, they have broken their ties with Atlantic Records (who released their second album and the biggest label they were part of) and have since begun carving out their own path. Despite their failure to appeal to new crowds on this album, (I am positive that most pre-existing fans will find this album refreshing, and a throw back to the bands roots, echoing their live performances) hopefully their new found freedom from the shackles of music butchering labels will allow them to produce something more appropriate to the twenty-tens (or do you just say 10s, I’m never really sure).

If you are looking for a track to give the album a quick test drive check out “Phantasmagoria”, it’s somewhat catchy and not to bad, it’s also one of the few tracks on the album were you can tell that the ‘front-man’ is not a female vocalist.