Decompositions: Volume Number One

Circle Takes the Square released the first chapter of Decompositions as a stand-alone, promotional EP on August 23, 2011, and intended to quickly follow up this release with Decompositions: Volume Number One three months later in November 2011.[1][2] The album was, however, not released until over a year after this projected release date on December 21, 2012 through Gatepost Recordings—coinciding with the alleged 2012 Mayan apocalypse.[3] Decompositions: Volume Number One was originally released digitally through the band's Bandcamp profile with a pay what you want pricing scheme. The limited-time pay what you want price expired upon the release of physical LPs and CDs in January 2013, but has since been reinstated.[3][4]

Brian Shultz of Alternative Press wrote that the band's "self-described bout of 'apocalyptic punk rock'" features "haunting and difficult, almost chokingly dense songwriting that blends practically every type of DIY punk movement of the last two decades and then some into epic, sprawling orchestrations. There are the throat-shredding spasms of early screamo...; grueling, crustcore atmospheres; sludgy, post-metal chugging; erratic, Calculating Infinity-like time changes, dizzying guitar riffs and grindcore drum fills; and even shockingly major-key, inherently melodic folk".[5] According to Doug Moore of Invisible Oranges, the album is more in line with heavy metal than As the Roots Undo in terms of production, and employs elements of hardcore, grind, post-rock, emo and black metal.[6]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Alternative Press	[5]
Exclaim!	(8/10)[7]
Sputnikmusic	[8]

Circle Takes the Square

• Drew Speziale – vocals, guitar
• Kathy Stubelek – vocals, bass
• David Rabitor – guitar, backing vocals
• Caleb Collins – drums, backing vocals

Production

• Anthony Stubelek – recording, mixing, mastering, production
• Circle Takes the Square – production