From the creative minds of Bogdan Punyak (Hard Core YouTube channel) and Julian Molitor (guitarist of Eastshade) comes a new project by the name Circlewind. Combining their musical talents, Bogdan’s impressive balance of screams and clean melodics work cohesively alongside Molitor’s infectious grooves and guitar riffs. With their lead single “Drown,” the duo bursts onto the scene with an intensity and ferocity that is sure to captivate listeners.
Opening with a simplistic groove with a catchy guitar riff that combines chromatic progression with dissonance breaking through, “Drown” establishes itself as a track heavily influenced by the nu-metalcore revival integrated into the metalcore sound. Transitioning into the verses, Bogdan’s haunting melodies lie in the depths of the moody ambience, accented by the screams and dissonant guitar lead that opened the track. The chorus, going back to the intro of the track, features that same, catchy groove with screams over top that amplify the passion in “Drown.” However, this quickly explodes into a breakdown utilizing a similar progression yet, giving the riff a heavier groove that seamlessly transitions from the chorus. Moving into a more melodic approach, the bridge erupts with energy with subtly soaring vocals juxtaposed by melodic screams, swiftly transitioning back to the intense chorus. “Drown” ends with a bang, downtuning the guitars a whole octave, creating an abrasive atmosphere with headbanging groove and aggressive vocals.
Lyrically, “Drown” tells the story of a main character confronting their alcoholic family member for the last time. Much of the song addresses the pain of facing abuse, yet that member turns to alcohol to “drown” out their feelings or reactions to the cries of the abused. The chorus describes the tormented path that the family member takes in finding a haven in alcohol, the lies of that “suppressed” reality. However, the track ends with the powerful conclusion “Drown in your vicious madness / I’m not complaining / You chose this path and drowned,” confronting the ultimately damaging effects that the addiction has had. The aggression within the lyrics are clearly felt through Bogdan’s impressive vocal performance that is both haunting and intense.
“Drown” is an impressive debut from a duo that has plenty of musical talent and experience under their belts. Although this is just one song, Circlewind has already hit the ground running with their first single, which is sure to carry the momentum into their first EP, ‘Lost December,’ which will be released on all streaming platforms December 1st.
