Circle

Their early albums were mostly limited-edition experiments: Meronia (Bad Vugum, 1994 - Ektro, 2007), whose lyrics were written in the imaginary language of Meronian and whose aesthetic (if not sound) evoked Magma and Voivod, Zopalki (Bad Vugum, 1996), Hissi (Metamorphos, 1996), Fraten (Metamorphos, 1997), Pori (Metamorphos, 1998), the live Surface (Metamorphos, 1998), Prospekt (Resonant, 2000). Several repetition-based pieces sounded like a cross of post-rock and minimalism.

Taantumus (Bad Vugum, 2001 - Ektro, 2009) was an eclectic collection, boasting one of their archetypical hypnosis, Kultaa, as well as the psychedelic Suopea, the futuristic Lyhytaallosta, the neurotic Morn, and a bunch of melodramatic intermezzos (Pelqton, Kekkone, Siivet, Valtaisa Hahmo).

Their art further matured with Andexelt (Metamorphos, 1999 - tUMULt, 2001), majestic progressive-rock that found a balance between drone-heavy music and riff-heavy music.

Sunrise (Ektro, 2001 - No Quarter, 2007), with the hard-rock of Nopeuskuningas next to the ambient drones of 15-minute Lokki, the live Raunio (Squealer, 2002), that includes the eponymous multi-part suite, and Alotus (Klangbad, 2002) were further stages in the drift of Circle's sound towards a heavier sound. A temporary zenith was reached with Guillotine (Ektro, 2003), that leaned ever more strongly towards German progressive-rock of the 1970s with the ten-minute Metsan Henget and the twelve-minute Teraskylpy.

The albums that followed were mostly uneven: Golem/Vesiliirto (Kevyt Nostalgia, 2004), half live and half studio recording, the live Empire (Riot Season, 2004), the live Mountain (Kevyt Nostalgia, 2004), the folk-ish and mostly acoustic Forest (Ektro, 2004 - No Quarter, 2005), the live General (Kevyt Nostalgia, 2005), the live Arkades (Fourth Dimension, 2006).

Best of the period was Tulikoira (Ektro, 2005 - Headspin, 2008), containing four suites, in particular the metal-tinged virulent Tulilintu, the gothic Rautakaarme, and the 24-minute progressive cosmic suite Puutiikeri).

Ektroverde, a Circle side-project, leaned instead towards jazz: Mortalaatori (1996), Futuro (1998), Pingvin (1998), Arpeggio (1999), Integral (2000), Ukkossalama (2003).

A return to form for Circle was the stately double-disc Miljard (Ektro, 2006), that indulged in quasi new-age atmosphere, with the 20-minute Parmalee, the 21-minute Duunila and the 22-minute Viitane.

Circle then posted another original take on progressive-rock with Tyrant (Latitudes, 2006), containing three lengthy hypnotic epics (including the free-form ambient psychedelia of Steel Torment Warrior and another hypnotic session, Screaming Luovutus), while the all-instrumental Tower (Last Visible Dog, 2007), half non-metal at all (no heavy riffs, at least, and some fusion-like nuance) and featuring electronic musician Mika "Verde" Rintala, was largely uneventful.

The Circle of Panic (Ektro, 2007) are one of the few bands in the world that try to bridge two wildly different worlds such as punk-rock (the 38-second Germs-style hardcore fit of Neverending Dinner, followed by five more fits of the same kind) and ambient/cosmic/minimalist trance (opener Black Tape, the 12-minute Tunnel, the 14-minute And Far Away).

Rakkenus (Ektro, 2007) and the double-disc Telescope (Ektro, 2008) document live performances.

Katapult (No Quarter, 2007) contains Saturnus Reality and the horror instrumental Four Points Of The Compass.

Pharaoh Overlord, the all-instrumental side-project of Circle's guitarist Jussi Lehtisalo, debuted with the stoner-rock of #1 (2001), which was basically an heavier version of Circle, but, after the mellower #2 (2003), found an original passage to progressive-rock with #3 (2005), a work of lengthy and hypnotic suites (such as the ten-minute Test Flight and the 13-minute Laivius 17) propelled by a "motorik" pulse. They final destination, however, was the aggressive, speedmetal-influenced #4 (2006), a far more trivial affair.

Circle's bassist Jussi Lehtisalo and Circle's keyboardist/vocalist Mika Ratto formed Ratto Ja Lehtisalo to toy with dance-punk and synth-pop of the 1980s, as documented on Kopernikus Hortoilee Nakinkengassa (Ektro, 2003), Pari Lepakkoa Transylvaniassa (Ektro, 2005), En Benttonin Briljantti Stabilismi (Ektro) (2006).

Itavayla is the side-project of Circle's guitarist Janne Westerlund that released Itavalta (Verdura, 2005) and especially Itavayla (Rikos Records, 2006), that veered towards a sort of avantgarde space-rock.

Steel Mammoth was another Circle side-project that released Atomic Mountain (Ektro, 2007), The Kingdom Of The Golden Hammer (2008) and Nuclear Ritual (Musapojat, 2009).

Rakhim was a collaboration between Jussi Lehtisalo and drummer Janne that released Rakhim (Qbico, 2006) and especially Crimson Umbrella (20 Buck Spin, 2007), containing Transylvanian Error (17:45) and Ultimate Sword (16.34), orgies for tribal drumming, psychotic vocals and sound effecds.

Doktor Kettu, yet another Lehtisalo side-project, debuted with Soft Delirium (2009) after several limited-edition discs.

Verde (Mika Rintala) released albums for self-made electronic instruments: Vuoronumero (Verde, 2004), Kato Internetist (Musically Incorrect, 2005) and Legenda (Musically Incorrect, 2006), Karmes (Karkia Mistika, 2009).

Los Angeles-based Jesters Of Destiny's vocalist and guitarist Bruce Duff fronted Circle on Circle's Hollywood (Ektro, 2009), that also includes tracks from the EP Earthworm (2006), Connection and Earthworm. The highlights are the prog-rock suite Madman and the lengthy power-ballad Suddenly, both in an unusual style for Circle, and both rather inept in their respective genre.

Triumph (Fourth Dimension, 2009) is a double-LP live album.

Circle's bassist Jussi Lehtisalo formed Lusiferiini Armosta with Circle's sound engineer Tuomas Laurila on drums and Eetu Henttonen on bass. They debuted with Nuolee (Ektro, 2009).

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