Archive for Russian Circles

Top 10 Best Post-Rock Instrumental Bands: Godspeed, Caspian, Russian Circles, Explosions in the Sky, Mono

Posted in Lists with tags , , , , , , , , , on 09/13/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

With last week’s announcement that Caspian (not to be confused with Far Caspian, who formed 14 years after the much better band mentioned earlier in this sentence) are coming back after a six-year break, it seemed somewhat fitting to remind those of you who aren’t terribly familiar with instrumental post-rock to get educated. Not only is the subgenre all too often overlooked – because the bands feature neither lyrics nor a shamelessly self-promoting frontman to promote them – it’s also a cohort whose music is both ensconcing for picky underground-music enthusiasts but also generally appealing for grandparents, regardless of they wear hearing aids.

With the longest sentence ever written this side of James Joyce’s Ulysses, one note before we begin: Mogwai would’ve topped this list without a second thought had the Glasgoweenies not introduced vocals later into their career. Same goes with Trans Am, The Album Leaf, Battles and Hella. Now that we’re done venting, here’s The Bad Penny‘s list of Best Post-Rock Instrumental Bands, which our recommended album noted in each entry:

1. Godspeed You! Black Emperor‘s Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven (2000)

2. Red SparowesAt the Soundless Dawn (2005)

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From the Vault: Exclusive – Russian Circles’ Track-By-Track Tour of Geneva

Posted in Features with tags on 09/18/2025 by Kurt Orzeck

If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Maybe the guys in Russian Circles were told that too many times by their moms. ‘Cause they’re certainly not the types to open their traps.

The Chicago cell is just about ready to introduce to the world the third Russian Circles record, Geneva – and like its predecessors, the heady adventure is vocal-free. Fortunately, though, we got guitarist Mike Sullivan to pipe up to us about the record.

Relaxed and genial, Sullivan quickly allayed our suspicions that social awkwardness might be behind Russian Circles’ speechless approach to heavy rock. We’re pretty sure he isn’t a hermit, even if he is in a band. Well, pretty sure.

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The Violent Sleep Of Reason Episode 4, 4.12.17

Posted in MP3s, The Violent Sleep of Reason with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on 04/12/2017 by Kurt Orzeck

Wear Your Wounds’ WYW album cover

The Bad Penny’s new program through Radio Free America, “The Violent Sleep of Reason,” focuses on new and upcoming heavy-metal releases. The show’s fourth installment featured new cuts by The Obsessed, Royal Thunder and Wear Your Wounds.

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