Following in the footsteps of fellow Chicagoans Pelican with a sound that Alternative Press magazine dubbed "instru-metal" on their 2006 debut "Enter," guitarist Mike Sullivan and drummer Dave Turncrantz (now expanded to a trio with the addition of bassist Brian Cook) broadened their horizons considerably on their second album "Station." Released last May, it finds a dynamic, at times virtuosic and alternately heavy and melodic middle ground where instrumental metal, progressive rock and post-rock a la Tortoise all combine with maximum ambience and an otherworldly vibe.

Formed in Chicago in 2004, though Sullivan and Turncrantz have been playing together since they were still in high school back in Missouri, the group has become one of the local scene's most likely to break out, creating considerable buzz and building a national audience by touring as an opening act for the likes of Coheed and Cambria, Secret Machines and Clutch. The band doesn't have any local dates at the moment--it's on the road through the end of the year--but you can sample its sounds (including the stunning track "Harper Lewis) at www.myspace.com/russiancircles and keep tabs on what it's up to at www.russiancircles.net.