Circle Of Giants, the 14th studio album from moe., is a spellbinding, transformative masterpiece. In welcoming the full range of newcomer and multi-instrumentalist Nate Wilson‘s abilites, the enduring jam-rock outfit—which also features guitarists Al Schnier and Chuck Garvey, bassist Robert Derhak, and the percussion section of Jim Loughlin and drummer Vinnie Amico—has added to its sonic depth and taken a bold stride in redefining its sound both onstage and in the studio.
A band continuing to defy odds and entropy through its 35th anniversary is an achievement unto itself, but Circle of Giants feels less concerned with celebrating the sound of moe.’s past than transforming the sound of moe.’s future. With Wilson opening the door to sonic spaces previously unavailable to moe., the new album takes on a bit of the unique, mid-’70s ambiance of celebrated acts like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. In the past, keyboard elements on moe. discs have come from situational necessity. Now, with a focused band member looking to impact the sound, moe. has found a new world within its time-honed oeuvre—dynamic, wide open, and waiting. This band has leveled up. A moe.st welcome evolution, indeed!
Scroll down to read our track-by-track review of Circle of Giants, the new album from moe. Circle of Giants is now available on all major streaming platforms, CD, and as a special-edition vinyl release. Listen in the format of your choice here or stream the album view the Spotify player below as you read.
moe. – Circle of Giants – Full Album
1. “Yellow Tigers”
The front-and-center Ozzy-era Black Sabbath/Deep Purple influence on Circle of Giants opener “Yellow Tigers” seems dissimilar from any previous moe. track, but in a good way. At the very least, it certainly delineates the eras, with Nate Wilson singing lead and his organ prominently featured in the mix. The monstrous guitar solo section reminds you that the two-headed beast of Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier is still on hand, even if the playing is more reserved and nuanced than usual. A serious opening statement.
2. “Bat Country”
The mix of flute, piano, and samba-sounding percussion gives “Bat Country” a fun, free-wheeling, funk-rock vibe. Derhak’s vocals, backed with tons of piano work and sectional jams, propels the tune into an effortlessly yet speedy pace that seems more present throughout Circle of Giants than on some of the band’s previous studio work. The frenzied tempo pairs with some Guitar Hero-level playing from Garvey and Schnier, juxtaposed by thrilling organ work from Nate.
3. “Giants”
One of the centerpieces of the disc, and one of its longest tracks by far at just under eight minutes, “Giants” is most appropriately named. Its wide-open, astral blues guitar lines once again recall elements of the strongest Sabbath and Purple in their spacey mid-’70s eras. This is sure to be a set-anchoring feature tune at moe. shows for decades to come.
4. “Band In The Sky”
Another strong contender for best new song on Circle of Giants, “Band In The Sky” is as immersive as it is spellbinding. Once again aided by new instrumentation and Garvey/Schnier counterpoint, the song is highlighted by stellar vocals and sparse but crucial bass work by Derhak. His tasteful restraint on the tune exemplifies a wonderful “less is more” element that’s on display throughout Circle Of Giants, allowing Wilson plenty of room to elaborate. “Band In The Sky” is 12 minutes of truly satisfying music that hopefully sees some even further expansion onstage.
5. “In Stride”
Schnier, Garvey, and Derhak’s vocal harmonies have long been a staple of moe. and have lead to some great tunes in the past. Utilized as they are here—backing up another assertive lead from Wilson—they lend “In Stride” a solidity worthy of the rhythmic bedrock laid down by Amico and Loughlin.
6. “Tomorrow Is Another Day”
As much as new-look moe. is moving forward, the band hasn’t lost touch with its long-established identity. The bluesy “Tomorrow Is Another Day” is a perfect example the band bridging the sounds of its past and present. There are elements of the “new sound,” here, but in the end, this is as solid a progressive rock jam as moe. has written in years. It may feature an organ break that would make John Paul Jones proud, but with Garvey and Schnier adding tons of towering chord work, the overall feel is decidedly old-school moe.
7. “Don’tcha Know”
The twisting and turning mallet work of percussionist Loughlin has been one of the better aspects of moe.’s evolution over the last few decades and there are some impressive displays of the percussionists melodic side on “Doncha Know”. The song is bombastic, and the backing vocals support the more considered Derhak vocals. Hearing the bassist use the power of restraint and focus where in the band’s earliest days he might have simply overpowered the lyrical intent is both welcome and a sign of learned wisdom on his part. It elevates the song from what could have been a simple rocker into a more reflective and enjoyable thing all its own.
8. “Beautiful Mess”
There’s an element of reflection that runs through Derhak’s lyrics on Circle of Giants that clearly reflect that the obstacles the bassist has faced the last few years. have had an effect on his perspective as a whole. Struggle inevitably changes a person, after all. That spirit shines through most clearly on “Beautiful Mess”. The song, a tumbling mix of tempos, gets in and out quickly, but says more than you would think possible in such a short span. A splendid example of a hard-earned economy of words and emotive power.
9. “Ups and Downs”
Another visit with the reflective core of Circle Of Giants, as well as some lovely drum work from Amico, make this airy tune both enjoyable and unassuming. It’s practically begging to be used as a juncture between songs and will surely see some fun live growth in the years to come.
moe. – Ups and Downs (Live in Studio)
10. “Living Again”
The most straightforward Schnier tune of the record features several hallmarks of his writing, such as a strong lyrical style, repetition, clear purpose, and intonation, but now with more of the same restraint so successfully on display elsewhere on the disc. Schnier leaves plenty of room for his bandmates and they all step up admirably. It’s emblematic of the new-look of moe.
The group will mark the arrival of Circle of Giants with a lengthy 2025 35th anniversary moe. tour. Click below for a list of dates. Find tickets to moe.’s 35th anniversary tour here.