To struggle is human, though everyone who does have a battle to wage has different levels of adversity staring them back. It’s easy to go down a destructive path, wounding and punishing ourselves, wallowing in seas of negativity that make self-healing a tougher thing to accomplish. Hope isn’t lost, but it’s often very difficult to find, and that alone can be a mighty mountain to conquer.

German trio The Circle makes that the focus of their stunning second record “Of Awakening,” an incredible mix of heavy emotion and doom metal awash in blackness. Treading amid these five powerful songs means facing your own shadows, the ones it sometimes seem like you wear like a cape, or perhaps more fittingly, a butcher’s apron. The band—vocalist Asim Searah, guitarist Stanley Robertson, drummer Philipp Wende—are joined by guests Jaakko Nikko (of Damnation Plan, Essence of Sorrow and many others, who provides bass) and Lisa Wende (viola and violin) to flesh out this heavily emotional creation, one that bends but never breaks under the weight of psychological torment and tries in earnest to find beams of catharsis underneath a mountain of pain.

“Ruins, My Dying World” dawns as a severe rupture of the heart, gruff singing and nasty growls retching and wailing. The murk continually gets thicker and more impossible to tread, and after a full sonic immersion, the strings ache, and creaky speaking chills your bones. Suddenly, you’re chest deep in a deluge, the shrieks spatter blood, and the gloom pushes even harder, sending prog-fed guitars into the atmosphere and finally going permanently cold. “Of Awakening” features Tim Charles of Ne Obliviscaris on violin, and the track itself jolts open, quickly getting blood racing through veins. Growls lurch as the pace quickens and toughens, powerful singing also playing a major role, the harshness picking up and becoming more oppressive. The bass plods as Charles’ playing sends chills, turning cinematic and leaving a semisweet glaze behind.

“Afflux” is reflective, solemn singing helping lead the way, the emotional power becoming richer as it grows. Growls erupt as the harsher elements dig deeper, morose melodies linger, and the slow-driving misery ensures you soak in the dark waters until you’re pickled. “Reign of the Black Sun” begins with drums crushing, guitars digging into the molten rock, and a burly push sinking in alongside the hearty singing that reaches the stratosphere. Gloomy strings smear as the dreariness increases, the singing sweeps, and the drums rumble with fervor. The emotional swell builds as blasts destroy steel, growls mash psyches, and the strings increase their hold, ending things hypnotically. Closer “Ashes and Fading Tides” has a hazy opening, clean calls swimming in the air, sweeping open before melodies tidal wave, and growls begin to kill. Great clean singing surges as the doom swells, and a massive rush of power draws near. Strong leads emerge and scorch, and a glorious surge pushes everything into the heavens.

The darkness and woe on “Of Awakening” is thick and apparent, and the anguish and sadness packed into this record by the Circle takes some time to digest before its message becomes fully apparent. This is a stunning, heavy record, one that leaves a massive toll on you mentally and physically when this record comes to an end. Yes, there is beauty and delicacy woven in as well, but that’s almost as a salve to help dress wounds this record leaves that are a challenge from which to fully heal.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/thecircle.metal

To buy the album, go here: https://shop.aoprecords.de/gb/

For more on the label, go here: http://www.aoprecords.de/