All
right - can someone please explain to me, what the deal is with these
Norwegians? In the beginning of the year we were treated with an
excellent album from Communic, and I was convinced, that their album
was newcomer album of the year! But no! Circus Maximus has with
their debut album "The 1st Chapter" managed to deliver an
even more complete and brilliant album! This
has to be one the most impressive progressive metal debut albums in a
very long time! Everything fits like a hand in a glove on this album:
strong songs, wonderful melody-lines, awesome guitar leads,
outstanding vocals, a very good sound and the rhythm section of Glen
Mollen (bass) and Truls Haugen (drums) lays down the foundations with
excellence. Musically
I am pretty sure they known their Dream Theater albums very well -
just take a listen to the brilliant instrumental "Biosfear"
and you'll know what I mean! But it's not like they are a total
rip-off of Dream Theater - everything is done with a lot of conviction
and very skilful - from the nice melodic guitar leads, through the
nice progressive keyboard parts and not to forget - the wonderful
vocals from Michael Erikson - everything seems to be in place on this
album! Nine
very strong songs are on offer for us Europeans, and they are all of a
very high standard, but a few stands out! I love the very hard and
progressive instrumental "Biosfear", but they do also know
how to write a nice melodic ballad, which "Silence From
Angels Above" is a very good example of ... but one tracks stands
above all the other in my book: "The 1st Chapter" - a 19
minutes rock anthem, which has a perfect balance between progressive
metal and hard rock - a truly classic metal tune. If
you are only going to buy a few albums this year, then make sure
Circus Maximus is among them! Recommended
tracks: "Biosfear", "Silence From Angels Above" & "The
1st Chapter" |
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