Rosetta West have always been ones to conjure atmospheres. And their latest offering ‘Circle of Doubt’ arrives like a half-remembered dream at dusk, steeped in smoke and ritual. Released in sync with the turning of the Celtic calendar, the track feels like a seasonal rite: dark, swirling, and eerily grounding.
Built around a slow-burning guitar groove that hums like a mantra, ‘Circle of Doubt’ drags you under and keeps you there. It’s not in a rush; this is a song that simmers, one eye fixed on the abyss, the other gazing skyward. The riffs loop and loop, locking you into a trance, while far-off solo lines ripple like hallucinations, as if they’re being whispered through the amp from another plane.
Vocally, Joseph Demagore delivers with the weight of someone who’s been through the fire and isn’t quite sure if he made it out. There’s a weariness in his voice, but also defiance, a sense that this is a song about getting back up even when you don’t know which way is forward. The lyrics are cryptic but cutting, like pages torn from a scorched journal: you won’t catch every word on first listen, but you’ll definitely feel them.
If you’re familiar with Rosetta West’s back catalogue, you’ll recognise the fingerprints: the outsider edge, the raw production that leaves the door open for ghosts, the blending of blues-rooted storytelling with psychedelic unease. There’s always been something timeless about this band, like their songs are echoing through different eras all at once.
‘Circle of Doubt’ slowly earns your attention with its grit and soul. It’s a journey inward, a reckoning, and maybe even a form of healing if you’re willing to sit in the dark with it for a while.
So go ahead, put on your headphones, dim the lights, and press play. This is underground blues as spiritual warfare. And Rosetta West is still out here, fighting the good fight.
