Caught in the Smoke: Rosetta West’s “Circle of Doubt”

“Circle of Doubt” doesn’t begin so much as emerge, like something rising from the bottom of a deep well. The guitar riff rolls in, slow and circular, almost drowsy. It repeats in a way that doesn’t feel lazy. It feels heavy, like dragging your boots through spiritual mud. There’s a weariness in the sound, but also a stubborn kind of motion, like a wheel turning even when the road disappears.

Rosetta West has always had a knack for wrapping the mystical in something raw and electric, and this track continues in that vein. The blues foundation feels ancient, but it’s layered with something more expansive. Flickers of psychedelia in the soloing, strange whispers in the corners, and background tones that shimmer just out of reach. It’s a sound that lives somewhere between earth and sky.

Lyrically, the song feels like a confession given after the battle is already over. Joseph Demagore sings not from a place of clarity, but from the middle of the fog. The circle he’s caught in doesn’t feel metaphorical. It feels lived. Burnout, spiritual fatigue, the kind of doubt that sinks into the bones. Yet even as the song spirals, there’s an undercurrent that suggests something is trying to climb out. Not triumphantly, not even hopefully, just trying.

The production, as always with Rosetta West, leans into texture. Jason X’s bass and keyboard layers sit under the mix like shifting ground, never stealing attention but constantly reshaping the landscape. Nathan Q. Scratch’s drumming has a loose, instinctive feel, more like weather than rhythm. It all adds up to a track that doesn’t declare itself, but surrounds you slowly.

Released on Beltane, a day charged with renewal and ancient energy, “Circle of Doubt” feels like the smoke left behind after the ritual fire burns down. It’s not about resolution. It’s about witnessing the moment when the desire to rise finally stirs, even if the way out remains unclear.

If you're drawn to music that walks the edge between the spiritual and the sonic, stream “Circle of Doubt” now on your platform of choice. Let it play, and let it pull you in.

Let the haze of Circle of Doubt wash over you. Stream it now on Spotify and get closer to the sound of Rosetta West.