With Circuits, heavy rockers Gnarwhal step into a deeper current. The first single from their forthcoming sophomore record, Lucid Machines, carries a weight that feels deliberate, patient in its build and unhurried in its impact.
The track unfolds gradually, in a manner that mirrors the internal rhythm of its subject, a created being on the edge of awareness. Whether machine or artificial intelligence, it is when consciousness arrives when it all becomes far more complicated. Identity, attachment, and the devastation of abandonment sneak in, and emotional arc feels intimate despite the mechanical frame.
The buildup crests and gives way to a heavier descent, opening into a doomy outro that feels expansive and suffocating. It’s a pivotal moment where the weight of the narrative settles in.
Sonically, the track marks a turning point for the band, presenting a clear pull toward doom and stoner rock influences, but the emphasis lies in dynamics and space. The recording captures a kind of physicality while leaving enough air between elements.
Gnarwhal's newer material signals a band willing to slow down and allow the weight of their themes to fully resonate.
ZR