The amulet, a small object imbued with supernatural powers, has existed for centuries across various cultures and civilizations. It is believed to bring luck, protection, and even healing to its wearer. The concept of the amulet dates back to ancient times when humans sought ways to ward off evil spirits, disease, and misfortune. Different cultures have their own unique amulet designs and beliefs surrounding them. For instance, in ancient Egypt, amulets were commonly shaped like gods or animals, such as the Eye of Horus or the scarab beetle. These amulets were believed to protect against illness, bring good fortune, and ensure a safe journey into the afterlife.
Listening to a lot of these songs I'm catching a lot of loss of innocence but also still being able to move forward. Was there any particular thing that sparked this or did you notice at any point where all the themes were starting to come together?
Here he seems happier to let the music guide the words, focusing on the feeling at hand, the moment, and his words and voice are the stronger for it. Green s recent penchant for growls are replaced by touches of falsetto, the chorus takes a step back rather than clamoring for attention, and the climax is followed by an extended and meditative outro.
These amulets were believed to protect against illness, bring good fortune, and ensure a safe journey into the afterlife. In Medieval Europe, amulets were often made of natural materials such as herbs, stones, or even parts of animals. They were worn to protect against witchcraft, demons, and evil spirits.
Album Review: Circa Survive – ‘The Amulet’
Circa Survive, a gently psychedelic and otherworldly post-hardcore mainstay, started in 2004 as a project between members Anthony Green, Colin Frangicetto, Nick Beard, Brendan Ekstrom, and Stephen Clifford. Today, CS consists of those same five members, who have lived through a decade of personal tragedy, addiction, the growth of families, and more record labels than can be counted on one hand. With many one-off reunions and sudden attempts at reinvention after long silences, how many bands have stuck together and continued to make music – let alone music that is worthy of sustained attention from their once hormone-addled fans who have since graduated into adult life? The Amulet is Circa Survive’s 6 th full-length album, which already puts them in rarified air, but what really makes it an album worth talking about is simply that it’s one of the band’s best.
2015’s Descensus was released following publicized revelations about lead singer Anthony Green’s battles with heroin. While it echoed earlier struggles with substances that were the thematic focus of Juturna , the band’s first album, Descensus showed that the group was still hungry, still capable, and still committed to making music together. It was an unexpected delight for some fans whose interest had dwindled following the uneven Blue Sky Noise , and the troublingly uninspired Violent Waves. This return – with plenty of claws and teeth – might have been enough. It was not the band’s best, but was certainly a good album that touched on some fresh ground.
With The Amulet we are not just given a re-introduction to the band. It is more than a statement of resilience and a reminder of what once was. Full of creativity, lacking predictability, it is a damn good album that rings with a sense of urgency most bands fail to sustain through two or three albums, let alone a half dozen.
It kicks off with “Lustration,” a song that takes its time setting the scene with a gently rendered and tender melody, before unleashing a barrage of signature guitar lashes and some particularly energetic drumming from Clifford, whose performances across the album are both inventive and bracing. As the first single, the song acts as a map of intent for the album as a whole; there are familiar tricks here, all the moves that one might expect from CS, but they are punctuated, and at places even pleasantly dismantled, by surprising doses of originality. Green’s recent penchant for growls are replaced by touches of falsetto, the chorus takes a step back rather than clamoring for attention, and the climax is followed by an extended and meditative outro. There is urgency, but there is also patience. The song breathes, feels vast, and hides nothing. And it is in the collection of songs that follows that these qualities are all mirrored and even further developed.
“Never Tell A Soul,” as well as the wonderfully energetic “Stay,” rank among the band’s most raucous and simultaneously mind-bending songs. These harken back to their sophomore record, On Letting Go, while incorporating elements that feel fresh and defy categorization. This is not surprising, given that the band followed the release of their last LP with two consecutive anniversary tours, which celebrated their first two albums by playing them in full night after night.
While there is certainly ample nostalgia fueling these now-common trips down memory lane, it was never necessary for Circa Survive to do these tours. They could have easily kept on with their current material, but seemed invigorated by mining their collective past, and from this, may have tapped into something that they lost with the years: a willingness to risk something, to indulge in restlessness. And damn if it isn’t refreshing to hear Green trade in his high-pitched growls for a full on scream here and there.
The album’s centerpiece, and its longest song, “At Night It Gets Worse,” is a dreamlike slow-burn that lulls the listener into a place of vulnerability, with moments of anxiety translated through sudden bursts of guitars that wail and jitter as the track lopes on towards its climax. Similarly, “The Amulet,” the title track and closer to the album, might be among the record’s most infectious songs. With its powerful build-up and invigorating payoff, CS is firing on all pistons with this finale, and its last minute makes for one of the finest moments on any album in their discography. Though Green’s lyrics appear to touch on themes familiar to him, those of addiction, loss, and subsequent redemption, they tend more towards symbol-heavy stream of consciousness meditations, which are more effective than some of his more pseudo-philosophical self-help narratives (Surely “Always Begin” and “I’ll Find A Way” worked for someone, somewhere). Here he seems happier to let the music guide the words, focusing on the feeling at hand, the moment, and his words and voice are the stronger for it.
That is not to say that every moment is entirely fresh. There are passages, and even tracks, where the band retreads onto some familiar territory, as on “Rites of Investiture” and “Flesh and Bone,” the somewhat token ballad of the bunch – but even these are delivered with more strength and tenderness, respectively, than their familiar counterparts from records past. The album is filled out by strange and surprising songs like “Tunnel Vision” and “The Hex,” that show the band meddling with time signatures and melodic tropes in ways they haven’t for years. Dueling guitars from Frangicetto and Ekstrom provide a swaying undercurrent of melody and tension, rather than blaring to the forefront with cheap hooks. The step away from the familiar, back towards a more atmospheric, and at times even chimerical approach, brings out the very best in this band by joining the enthrallment of their past with the clarity they have gained by writing and performing as a single entity for over a decade.
The album’s cover – another evocative entry in the band’s ongoing collaboration with Esao Andrews, without whose work a new Circa Survive album would feel inauthentic – shows a woman, naked in a desolate landscape, bending beneath the burden of a giant, somewhat sinister shell. While the image is arresting, it seems at odds with the overall feel of this album. Maybe this picture is the band commenting on the responsibility of having a platform, a voice that people keep coming back to hear, stripped of all privacy and struggling with expectations. But, The Amulet feels like Circa Survive at their most unburdened – shedding the formulas and trials of their collective past, accepting their strengths and limitations, and discovering something new through their enduring unity.
Prolific, just keep it rolling.
These amulets were often engraved with symbols or prayers to enhance their protective powers. Across Asia, amulets hold great significance in various religious practices. In Hinduism, amulets known as "yantras" are used to invoke the blessings of deities and to bring good luck and prosperity. In Buddhism, amulets called "phra krueng" are believed to provide protection and luck to the wearer. Amulets also play a crucial role in Thai culture, where they are worn as a form of spiritual protection and to bring good fortune in all aspects of life. The amulet's enduring popularity can be attributed to the belief in its supernatural abilities and the comfort it provides to the wearer. Whether it is a religious artifact, a family heirloom, or a purchased item, the amulet serves as a symbol of hope, strength, and protection. In modern times, the popularity of amulets has extended beyond traditional cultures. Many people, regardless of their religious or cultural background, wear amulets as a personal talisman. Some popular amulets today include gemstone pendants, evil eye talismans, and various symbols associated with luck and protection. The amulet's ability to survive through centuries is a testament to its enduring power and the universal human desire for protection and good fortune. Despite changes in beliefs and customs, the amulet continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many, reminding us of the invisible forces that surround and influence our lives..
Reviews for "The Zero Gravity Connection: Circa Survive's Amulet in Space"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed by "The Amulet Circa Survive". The story was confusing and the characters lacked depth. The whole time I was reading, I couldn't connect with any of the characters or understand their motivations. The plot felt disjointed and I often found myself getting lost and having to go back and reread sections. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating and tedious read.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't finish "The Amulet Circa Survive". The writing style was infuriatingly pretentious and the author seemed more interested in showing off their vocabulary than telling a cohesive story. The plot meandered without any clear direction and the characters were flat and uninteresting. I found myself dreading picking up the book and eventually gave up halfway through. Definitely not recommended.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "The Amulet Circa Survive" was a disappointment for me. The concept had so much potential, but the execution fell flat. The story lacked pacing and there were too many unnecessary subplots that didn't contribute to the main storyline. The world-building was also confusing and underdeveloped. I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
4. Michael - 2 stars - I found "The Amulet Circa Survive" to be a tedious and overly complex read. The writing was dense and convoluted, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. The characters were unrelatable and their dialogue felt forced. The book also suffered from a lack of editing, with numerous grammatical errors and inconsistencies throughout. Overall, I struggled to find enjoyment in this novel and wouldn't recommend it.