Circle is an experimental rock band, founded in Pori, Finland in 1991. Their eclectic style is "ever changing, ever Circular", classified into genres such as progressive, Krautrock, ambient, heavy metal, speed-kraut, and avant-rock, among others. On some albums they have defined themselves as New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal (NWOFHM).
Circle was formed in 1992. Its founder, Jussi Lehtisalo, is the only member who has been in the band the entire time. However, since recording 2003's Guillotine the core line-up has consisted of Lehtisalo with Mika Rättö, Tomi Leppänen and Janne Westerlund. Since 2009, Julius Jääskeläinen and Pekka Jääskeläinen have appeared on all recordings by the band. Sound engineer and musician/composer Tuomas Laurila is also credited as a member of the band on a number of releases.
Circle has a prolific release schedule but in recent years Circle releases have slowed, as the members of the group spend more time on side projects. Lehtisalo, Leppänen and Westerlund also comprise the regular members of stoner rock spin-off group, Pharaoh Overlord. Rättö and Lehtisalo also perform and record together as a duo, and as a trio with Kauko Röyhkä. Other projects featuring members of Circle include Steel Mammoth, Ektroverde, Plain Ride, Lusiferiinin Armosta, K-X-P, Aavikko and Doktor Kettu.
Whilst recording the album Miljard in 2006 the band was filmed by Esko Lönnberg, and the resulting movie, Saturnus Reality released as a DVD, by No Quarter Records (2007). Lönnberg's attempt to make the film itself became the subject of another movie, The Man With The Video Camera, filmed by Petri Hagner, which has also been released as a DVD by Fonal Records (2010). The band are also closely associated with the filmmaker Mika Taanila: in 2011 they provided a live soundtrack to his 1998 silent film Pori (released as an album, Suur-Pori); and in 2012 recorded several new tracks for Six Day Run, also released subsequently as an album.
In 2011 Circle/Pharaoh Overlord were artists-in-residence at Dutch rock festival Roadburn Festival.
1994 Meronia, CD/2LP (Bad Vugum), 2007 CD re-issue (Ektro Records)
1996 Zopalki, CD/2LP (Bad Vugum), 2012 CD re-issue (Ektro Records)
1996 Hissi, CD (Metamorphos / Captain Trip (Japan))
1997 Fraten, CD (Metamorphos)
1998 Pori, CD (Metamorphos), 2000 CD (Feldspar (USA))
1998 Kollekt, compilation CD (Bad Vugum)
1999 Andexelt, CD (Metamorphos), 2000 CD (tUMULt)
2000 Prospekt CD (Ektro Records), 2002 2LP (Static Resonance)
2001 Taantumus, CD (Bad Vugum)
2002 Sunrise, CD (Ektro Records), 2006 2LP (Headspin)
2002 Alotus, CD (Klangbad)
2003 Guillotine, CD (Ektro Records), 2005 CD (Scratch)
2004 Forest, CD (Ektro Records), 2005 CD (No Quarter)
2005 Tulikoira, CD (Ektro Records), 2007 2LP + 7" (Headspin)
2006 Miljard, 2CD (Ektro Records)
2006 Tyrant, CD (Latitudes)
2007 Tower feat. Verde, CD (Last Visible Dog)
2007 Panic, CD (Ektro Records)
2007 Katapult, CD/LP (No Quarter)
2008 Hollywood, CD/2LP (Ektro Records)
2010 Rautatie, CD (Ektro Records)
2011 Infektio, CD/LP (Conspiracy Records)
2011 Noiduttu, MC (Ruton Music)
2011 Rakkaus tulessa feat. Erkki Kurenniemi, LP (Full Contact)
2011 Giardino feat. Verde, MC (Ruton Music)
2012 Manner, LP (Hydra Head Records)
2013 Enharmonic Intervals (For Paschen Organ), with Mamiffer, CD/LP (Ektro Records)
2013 Incarnation, CD/LP (Ektro Records)
2013 Frontier, as "Falcon (ex-Circle)", CD/LP (Ektro Records)
2014 Leviatan, as "Circle (ex-Falcon)", CD/LP (Ektro Records)
2015 Pharaoh Overlord, CD/LP (Ektro Records)
1998 Surface, split w. Marble Sheep, CD (Metamorphos / Captain Trip (Japan))
2001 Raunio, CD (Ektro Records), 2002 CD (Squealer Music)
2004 Golem / Vesiliirto, 2LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / Super Metsä)
2004 Empire, LP (Riot Season)
2004 Mountain, LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / Super Metsä)
2005 General, LP (Kevyt Nostalgia / Super Metsä)
2006 Arkades, LP (Fourth Dimension Records), 2007 2CD (Fourth Dimension Records)
2007 The Blaze Game, as "Sunburned Circle" with Sunburned Hand of the Man, CD/LP (Conspiracy)
2007 Telescope, 2CD (Sunhair) Recorded in 2003
2007 Rakennus, CD (Ektro Records)
2008 Triumph, 2LP (Fourth Dimension Records) Recorded in 2007
2009 Soundcheck, LP (Full Contact)
2011 Maxim, LP (Full Contact)
2012 Serpent, CD (Ektro Records)
2014 Hukkaamiskielto, MC (Ruton Music)
2014 6000 km/h, LP (Full Contact)
2013 Suur-Pori, MC (Ruton Music)
2013 Six Day Run, LP (Ektro Records)
2014 SSEENNSSEESS, CD/LP, (Ektro Records)
1991 DNA, 7" (Seventh Seal)
1992 Point, 7" (Bad Vugum)
1993 Silver, 7" (Bad Vugum)
1993 Crawatt, 7" (VHF Records)
1995 Ghatarian, 7" (Fourth Dimension Records)
1996 Kitin, split w. Psychoplasma, 7" (Metamorphos)
1998 Valas, split w. DisCo., 7" (Zerga)
2002 Tour (7 inch), split with Acid Mothers Temple, 7" (Verdura)
2003 Elcric, 7" (Fonal Records)
2006 Earthworm, CDEP (No Quarter)
2006 Void Star, 7" (DotDotDot)
2007 Vaahto, 7" (Trensmat Records)
2009 Odottamaton, 7" (Sub Pop)
2011 Mylläri, 7" (Svart Records)
2012 End Of Time/God Told Me To, 7" (Ektro Records) (Cover versions of two songs by Jesters of Destiny)
2013 Beer and Ribs, as "Falcon (ex-Circle)", 7" (Full Contact)
2014 Kumiluoti, 7" (Full Contact)
1995 Yllättäviä kohtaamisia / Surprising Encounters, LP/CD, (Bad Vugum) (Features the Circle tracks Öja and Surrounding)
1998 MetaZoon, CD, (Metamorphos) (Features the Circle tracks Friitalan Nahka and a cover version of King Crimson's song The Talking Drum)
2000 Tuonen Tytär - A Tribute To Finnish Progressive, CD, Mellow Records (Features a cover version of Haikara's song Kun Menet Tarpeeksi Kauas Tulevaisuuteen, Huomaat Olevasi Menneisyydessä)
2002 Klangbad First Steps, CD, (Klangbad) (Features the Circle tracks Scotch and Northern Sky)
2003 Painted Black, CD, (tUMULt) (Features a cover version of The Rolling Stones' song Paint It Black)
2006 Innature, CD, (Barge Recordings) (Features the Circle track No Battle, No Fire)
2006 SuperSonic 06, CD, (Capsule) (Features the Circle track Nöyrä Ninja)
2008 Like Black Holes In The Sky: A Tribute to Syd Barrett, CD, (Dwell Records) (Features a cover version of Syd Barrett's song Rats)
2009 Every Noise Has A Note, CD, (Trensmat Records) (Features the Circle track Vaahto)
