Please check out our music at facebook.com/gyreband "Second Circle" Reviews Metalblast.net review of "Second Circle" - To put into words just how much a record meets our approval without coming across as obsequious or trite (or, worse still, bland) is one of the hardest tasks facing the reviewer. This is the challenge facing me today as I review New Jersey technical/groove metal band Gyre, whose second EP ‘Second Circle’ came to my attention not more than a fortnight ago. On the basis of this record, Gyre is of that breed of groups whose music defies easy labelling, rising above any single genre. As it is the trend today, the band have been, and probably can be, most easily marked down as technical metal, but to limit them to a single musical space is to miss what makes the music of ‘Second Circle’ unique. When listening to the EP, I was surprised by just how quickly it played. Yes, it is short – four tracks, not even 17 minutes long – but there is so much variety and intensity packed within, that the music passes by even more quickly. The first track, ‘All Revealing Eye’ sets the tone for the rest of the EP, a maelstrom of straightforward metal aggression (reminding me of Malefice) and groove/funk-inspired technical ability (I couldn’t help but hear Mastodon too, not a bad thing). Bands who are known for moving between and beyond genres know that such an anti-formulaic formula can bring success – just ask Between the Buried and Me, probably the band around best known for this sort of approach. However, such an approach can always backfire, the music becoming too unrecognisable and too intense – as such the concept of space is always important. Knowing when to say less is as necessary as turning up the volume, something Gyre have learnt, and quickly. Although ‘Second Circle’ is a heady experience – Gyre certainly do pack it in – each track swells and peaks, moments of quiet and moments of intensity. ‘All Revealing Eye’ certainly does this well, but the best song for me is track 3, ‘Circle to Feed’, a Mastodon-inspired sound, heavily set on groove-based riffs, underpinned by some seriously impressive basswork. The songwriting on ‘Second Circle’ is well-aided by the excellent production, the clarity of which certainly helps with this sense of space. Each instrument comes across nicely and there is no sense of one dominant sound. Again, ‘Circle to Feed’ illustrates this well – the clean vocals sit well on top of the guitars, which still allow the bass to shine through. Such clarity of sound with music of this complexity is no mean feat, and every time I listen to the EP I hear something new. Indeed, this review would be amiss not to mention the musical ability on offer, especially in vocalist Giovannie Jeckler’s impressive range of shouts, growls and clean vocals, and the independent voice of bassist Chirag Bhatt. This is the first 5 star review I’ve ever given, for two simple facts. Firstly, although I’ve gone through the EP about fifteen times now, I’m not yet bored of it, and I know that – unlike many other albums I’ve reviewed – I’ll come back to it once this is published. Second, and importantly, this record deserves 5 stars on the basis that the only fault I can find with it is the clichéd ‘it’s too short’. Of course, this is no real fault – this is only an extended play, after all. However, this raises the question – can Gyre reproduce this form over twelve tracks, rather than four? They’ve certainly proven they can handle the shorter format. If they keep up this level of quality then their full-length debut will definitely be something to watch out for. Metal-temple.com review of "Second Circle" - It is between Death Metal and Progressive Metal that ranks this EP entitled "Second Circle" of the American band GYRE. This mix of the two styles often gives a sound that approaches what is called Djent. We can find a merger between clean voice and growls, but also more technical and melodic approach to finally come out with a rather original sound. Riffs composed with a very smart and strategic way, this is what I can say after a first listen, and there was no hesitation to compose parts that seems innovative and unexpected. In fact this EP exudes something mysterious through its four songs, and it was a little difficult to swallow the sounds that make up this album. The use of different types of growls and clean voice was a courageous decision by the band to better alternate with the different moods and expressions in the songs. By focusing more on the harmonies and riffs, I do not hide my appreciation. Indeed, although the band exists only for two years, but the musical maturity is there. GYRE is probably among the new wave of Metal bands that do not limit themselves to a specific genre; in every track I found a difficulty in identifying how they see their style of Metal. One thing is confirmed is that this band hides many surprises for the future. "Second Circle" is certainly one of the surprises for me in terms of new discoveries; I'll keep my eyes open on GYRE which certainly surprised many people who listened to their new EP. Echoesanddust.com review of "Second Circle" - Somehow, I’ve never encountered a band which hails from New Jersey thus far (besides, perhaps The Misfits and My Chemical Romance… which have absolutely do not relate in any way to Gyre). You could blame this on my aversion to today’s certain Jersey-based fads and stereotypes or the fact that I had spent far too many nights experiencing Boston in its transit station - wondering just how much worse Southern New England could be. So, for some odd reason the existence of metal within Jersey has never been something I’ve ever even considered. Though, somehow, Gyre – with their progressive metal and Cthulhu-esque aesthetic- managed to catch my eye and evade my critical stance towards their home base. Front man Giovannie Jeckler really offers some surprising variety and originality in his craft. Vocals range from crushing to tormented on the beginning track ‘All Revealing Eye’ and immediately shift to an excellent mix of heavy and clean on ‘Circle to Feed’. Though, it’d be a disservice to say that Gyre strictly stands out due to its vocals. Soaz (Guitar), McCartney (Guitar), Bhatt (Bass), and Carpio (Drums) hold up Gyre’s arrangements extremely well – adjusting to changes from Progressive to Thrash to Technical without even the slightest mistake (though one might chop that up to modern editing methods). Bhatt’s Bass, to me, adds quite a bit of distinction to songs like ‘Circle to Feed’ and ‘Ever Devourer’ – I always appreciate a skilled bottom end (even if that sounds bad) that shines through. Negatives for Gyre’s Second Circle EP are nearly non-existent. I personally find that Second Circle is easy to listen to multiple times and highly enjoyable both lyrically and musically. Not a single track fails to hold up to any claims Gyre makes and it’s obvious that this set wasn’t made to hold up one specific song. Gyre’s Second Circle is an impressive showcase of the bands capabilities – demanding the attention of all modern Progressive Metal fans and beyond.