Formed in late 2004 by guitarist Mike Sullivan and bassist Colin DeKuiper (both formerly of another instrumental band Dakota/Dakota), they quickly recruited Dave Turncrantz, formerly of St. Louis band Riddle of Steel. In 2007 DeKuiper departed the band and Brian Cook (These Arms Are Snakes and Botch) took on the role of bass player for the writing and recording of their newest album, entitled Station, recorded in Seattle with Producer Matt Bayles.
Station was released on May the 6th, 2008 on Suicide Squeeze Records.
On October 20th, 2009, the band released their third album entitled Geneva The album featured the same lineup as Station, with Brian Cook taking a much larger role in the writing and creation of the album. Brian Cook described the band's take on the new album being "less concerned with making sure we could replicate the material live as we were with making a compelling album."
In 2011, Russian Circles signed to Sargent House who had previously only exclusively released the band's albums on limited edition vinyl. Their fourth studio album Empros was released on October 25, 2011. A supporting tour with Deafheaven followed the release. In May, 2013 the group began recording their fifth studio album, produced by Brandon Curtis. Memorial was released at the end of October 2013 and featured a guest-vocal by Chelsea Wolfe. Together they embarked on a co-headlining UK/European tour in the fall.
Praise Be Man
Russian Circles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He lives in gold.
Take me, your soul,
To mountains.
Slow gaze upon the sea, the
Four walls are bleeding empty.
Praise your steel soul.
Taste the tail and fire.
Through time gaze on.
Water down the treasure,
You won't get it all until fall.
You're scared.
The lyrics in Russian Circles' song Praise Be Man can be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener, but the general theme seems to revolve around the idea of human greed and its consequences. The song starts with the line "Praise be man," which could be seen as a sarcastic remark, as the rest of the lyrics describe the desire for material possessions, such as gold and treasure, at the expense of one's own soul. The line "Take me, your soul, to mountains" could be interpreted as a metaphor for chasing after wealth and status, even if it means sacrificing one's spiritual well-being.
The second stanza of the song seems to depict a sense of emptiness and disillusionment that comes with the pursuit of material possessions. The line "Four walls are bleeding empty" could be interpreted as feeling trapped and unfulfilled despite having acquired material wealth. The mention of a "steel soul" and "taste the tail and fire" could be seen as a reference to recklessness and a lack of conscience in the pursuit of material possessions.
The final stanza of the song adds a sense of urgency, encouraging the listener to "tread on" and continue pursuing material wealth even though "you're scared." The line "Water down the treasure, you won't get it all until fall" could be interpreted as a warning that the pursuit of wealth will ultimately lead to a fall, as everything is temporary.
Overall, Russian Circles' Praise Be Man can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and materialism, as it can lead to spiritual emptiness and a fall from grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Praise be man.
Let us recognize and honor the greatness of humanity.
He lives in gold.
Man values material wealth above all else, often defining their success and worth by it.
Take me, your soul,
To mountains.
Guide me, lead me towards spiritual height and enlightenment of the soul.
Slow gaze upon the sea, the
Four walls are bleeding empty.
Amidst the monotony and emptiness of daily life, taking a moment to contemplate the vastness and complexity of the world can bring a sense of fulfillment.
Praise your steel soul.
Celebrate the strength and resilience of your inner self, which endures even in the face of adversity and challenges.
Taste the tail and fire.
Experience the extremes of life, both pleasure and pain, in order to truly live and grow.
Tread on with me, tomorrow.
Continue on this journey of life with me, facing the unknowns of tomorrow together.
Through time gaze on.
With a long-term perspective, we should strive to learn from the past, live in the present, and shape a better future.
Water down the treasure,
You won't get it all until fall.
To attain true wealth and abundance, one must work hard and be patient, understanding that the fruits of their labor may not be immediate and require time to fully mature.
You're scared.
Acknowledging the fear and uncertainty that arises in life, and aiming to overcome them through courage and resilience.
Contributed by Bentley P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.