Full Circle
by Hælos
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Mar 18, 2016
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Paste Magazine
    Mar 17, 2016
    90
    The debut is one of my picks for the year so far, a dance-hall record that grows on your and becomes more like a trusted friend who whispers wisdom from another universe.
  2. Clash Music
    Mar 23, 2016
    80
    Full Circle might not break any new ground, but with their simple yet thought-provoking approach to songwriting, HÆLOS have crafted one of the best debut albums in 2016 thus far.
  3. AllMusic
    Mar 18, 2016
    80
    What began with hope and reassurance ends with darkness and uncertainty. However, despite the loss of faith and the world crashing down, the band declares "here I'm alive" and the cycle begins anew.
  5. Dusted Magazine
    Mar 16, 2016
    80
    This is an album that pulls you up out of gloom and into exultation, and if it’s manipulative that way, so be it. As Watts says, we would like to be like that, and Full Circle makes it feel, at least for a little while, like we are.
  6. Pitchfork
    Mar 17, 2016
    77
    By wearing their influences on their sleeve while never slipping into gimmickry, HÆLOS are able to pull off an impressive trick, a debut record that both cements them in a genre and leaves then room to grow.
  7. musicOMH.com
    Mar 18, 2016
    70
    Full Circle is a promising start for a trio of artists who already possess a clear vision of the type of music they want to create. The chances are they will only improve with time to grow their songcraft and ideas further.
  8. Under The Radar
    Mar 16, 2016
    70
    Full Circle is electronic pop dance music of its own ilk, at once welcomingly familiar and completely unique, and best played after the bar, after the subway ride home. It is living room swaying music at its absolute best.
  9. Consequence
    Mar 18, 2016
    67
    For these 11 tracks, trip-hop’s habit for overcooked sad bastard balladry is traded for such succinct fluidity in songwriting that the moments where the album betrays its “debut” description are few and far between.
  10. The 405
    Mar 23, 2016
    65
    What it is, is a nice collection of dark trip-hop pop songs influenced by some great names but without forcing you to remember the name of HÆLOS. A little more substance over style will lead HÆLOS to bigger and better things.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Ceccon
    May 9, 2016
    10
    Este album é fantástico. Voz, melodia e letra, tudo incrível. Não consigo nem descrever o que sinto quando ouço (que aliás, está nos top 5Este album é fantástico. Voz, melodia e letra, tudo incrível. Não consigo nem descrever o que sinto quando ouço (que aliás, está nos top 5 albuns mais ouvidos por mim recentemente haha). Se você gosta de um "eletrônico" alternativo bem diferente, essa banda é a opção certa. Mandaram super bem nesse debut album.… Full Review »
  2. sebinho9
    Mar 18, 2016
    10
    This album is fantastic. Industrial beats puncture the silky harmonies while the synths keep everything moving along with such drama. TheThis album is fantastic. Industrial beats puncture the silky harmonies while the synths keep everything moving along with such drama. The tracks are perfectly ordered and textureed, providing juxtaposition after juxtaposition, yet seemingly flowing like a story of a difficult night out in a city. Here's how I read it:

    Full Circle starts with excerpts from Alan Watts' Spectrum of Love lecture, letting us know we're in for an existential experience, then glides into the punchy and portentous Pray- "pray don't fall down". Debut track Dust distils the mood after the initial rush before perhaps the most "pop" track of Earth Not Above takes us to the part of the evening when things start to spiral.
    Thereafter, Oracle provides a moment of contemplation before ascending into a Chemical Bros-like dance track. Alone perhaps describes the part of the night where you've lost your friends and the demons set in. The staccato, running synth (reminiscent of BT) is offset by the haunting vocals.
    Finally, the denouement (or rather renaissance or redemption of the night) begins with the 90s/Olive-like synths and XX-like dual vocals of Separate Lives and steadily grows via Sacred and Cloud 9 which lament and rail against love lost. Finally we come to Pale (presumably referring to the pallor induced by going through a night like this) which rises through the fear and anger into acceptance and a banging dance track with deep lancing synths. Here the vocals move from head to soulful chest, giving the impression of courage and true redemption. Time to go to bed before the demons set in again.

    What a debut album. Now that their sound is secured, I can't wait to see how they branch out.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »