Review: Mercury Circle — Killing Moons (2021)
Killing Moons by Mercury Circle is a deeply atmospheric journey that masterfully blends heavy doom metal elements with dark synth-rock
Mercury Circle was founded in 2018 by Jaani Peuhu, a seasoned musician with a long history in the industry who has established himself as a successful producer.
Mercury Circle can easily be considered a supergroup, as its lineup features members of renowned bands like Swallow the Sun, Children of Bodom, and To/Die/For.
The band members describe their style as “New Doom”—a reimagining of the traditional doom metal sound.
The band’s debut effort was the EP The Dawn of Vitriol, released in late summer 2020. Their first and, so far, only full-length album was titled Killing Moons, and its creation was born out of a tragic event in Jaani’s life.
All the music videos they released are connected by a shared concept: each video features a helmet, which serves as a symbol of transitioning into a more pleasant or fictional reality.
Mercury Circle can easily be considered a supergroup, as its lineup features members of renowned bands like Swallow the Sun, Children of Bodom, and To/Die/For.
The band members describe their style as “New Doom”—a reimagining of the traditional doom metal sound.
The band’s debut effort was the EP The Dawn of Vitriol, released in late summer 2020. Their first and, so far, only full-length album was titled Killing Moons, and its creation was born out of a tragic event in Jaani’s life.
All the music videos they released are connected by a shared concept: each video features a helmet, which serves as a symbol of transitioning into a more pleasant or fictional reality.
In an interview with MetalKings, Jaani Peuhu explained that the helmet reflects how the band views their music. He noted that listening to their songs allows people to escape daily anxieties, leave the planet behind, and find themselves in a place where they feel safe and comfortable.
At the time he was writing the songs for Mercury Circle, Jaani himself needed this type of escapism. It was a necessary refuge from what he was witnessing in his own life.
Speaking to Tuonela Magazine, Peuhu shared the painful reality of watching his father, an accomplished musician, being forced out of the industry due to Alzheimer's disease. Jaani admitted that he often wonders where his father is wandering within his own mind, imagining him free to travel through space and time—destroying planets or enjoying a spiritual world—while the illness quietly erases a lifetime of memories.
According to Jaani, the album's title also stems from these reflections. He views “moons” as a measure of time, while “killing” serves as a way to erase the years passed—much like the expression “killing time” while reading a book.
As a result, the album brings together reflections on reality, the desire to escape it, the creation of a fictional universe, and an attempt to understand the mind of someone losing their memory. Many of the songs became deeply personal not only for Jaani but for the other band members as well. Peuhu also confirms that listeners are free to interpret the music in their own way, finding their own gateway to peace and tranquility.
At the time he was writing the songs for Mercury Circle, Jaani himself needed this type of escapism. It was a necessary refuge from what he was witnessing in his own life.
Speaking to Tuonela Magazine, Peuhu shared the painful reality of watching his father, an accomplished musician, being forced out of the industry due to Alzheimer's disease. Jaani admitted that he often wonders where his father is wandering within his own mind, imagining him free to travel through space and time—destroying planets or enjoying a spiritual world—while the illness quietly erases a lifetime of memories.
According to Jaani, the album's title also stems from these reflections. He views “moons” as a measure of time, while “killing” serves as a way to erase the years passed—much like the expression “killing time” while reading a book.
As a result, the album brings together reflections on reality, the desire to escape it, the creation of a fictional universe, and an attempt to understand the mind of someone losing their memory. Many of the songs became deeply personal not only for Jaani but for the other band members as well. Peuhu also confirms that listeners are free to interpret the music in their own way, finding their own gateway to peace and tranquility.
Rating: 10/10
- Tuuli TalvinenFounder & Editor-in-ChiefInterviewer