Circus Maximus

Tue
17
Oct

CIRCUS MAXIMUS - Havoc In Oslo (Review)

information persons: 
content: 
86%
Produced By: 
Circus Maximus
Release Date: 
2017
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
Progressive Melodic Metal
Label: 
Frontiers
Score: 
86
Friday, August 4, 2017
Categories: 
Reviews
 
Another live review and I could cut and paste many comments from my Tyketto review.
 
Fans - you know the material - the band are quite sensational musicians, so that's no issue, the songs come from the catalogue of Circus Maximus' releases, leaning heavily on the recent Havoc release.
 
All that's needed is that all important sonic thumbs up. And I'm happy to give it again. The recording sounds great, the mix is nice and clear and it sounds pretty raw and live to me. And there's no daft audience fading between tracks, this is a concert!
 
The songs - as complex as they are - these guys really know how to play and it's a joy to listen to them in a live setting.

Great stuff for all CM fans and fans of progressive melodic metal in general.

 

 
Thu
01
Jun

CIRCUS MAXIMUS Bring 'Havoc In Oslo' To Fans August 4

Friday, August 4, 2017
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the release of CIRCUS MAXIMUS' hotly anticipated live album “Havoc In Oslo”, which will be released on August 4, 2017. It will be available on 2CD/DVD and 2CD/BluRay.
 
On February 6th, 2016, Norwegian prog metallers, Circus Maximus celebrated the release of their fourth studio album, 'Havoc' with a sold out show at the Rockefeller in Oslo, with a stunning live production that involved pyro, sparks (literally), and a massive light rig.
 
The band wanted to make this show one of the most memorable performances in Circus Maximus history and then to share this night with the world. So, it was decided to capture the entire night with multiple high definition cameras for a release on both Blu-Ray and DVD as well as an audio component.
 
Ever since the band released "Live In Japan" via YouTube, they have been eager to make a proper live release in a physical format. “Havoc Live in Oslo” is a powerful statement from a band at the top of their game!
 
Tracklisting:
• CD1:
1. Forging
2. Namaste
3. The One
4. The Weight
5. Highest Bitter
6. Architect Of Fortune
7. Arrival Of Love
8. Loved Ones
9. Sin
 
• CD2:
1. Havoc
2. Pages
3. Abyss
4. I Am
5. Chivalry
6. Game Of Life
 
• DVD/Blu-Ray:
1. Forging
2. Namaste
3. The One
4. The Weight
5. Highest Bitter
6. Architect Of Fortune
7. Arrival Of Love
8. Loved Ones
9. Sin
10. Havoc
11. Pages
12. Abyss
13. I Am
14. Chivalry
15. Game Of Life
 
 
 
Fri
18
Mar

CIRCUS MAXIMUS - Havoc (Review)

information persons: 
content: 
93%
Produced By: 
Circus Maximus
Release Date: 
2016
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
Progressive Melodic Hard Rock
Label: 
Frontiers
Score: 
93
Friday, March 18, 2016
Categories: 
Reviews
 
On the surface, I’d say that overall, this isn’t as strong as the last album Nine, but there are parts of this release that I favor over everything the band has done before.
 
Havok is a left turn for the guys after their brilliant progressive monster Nine. This time they’ve evolved into something a little more commercial. The album is nowhere near as heavy as last time and there’s an updated more contemporary sound in play, plus more keyboards as well.
 
There’s a few tracks here striving for modern rock radio – there’s a trilogy of tracks almost immediately - the moody Highest Bitter has an almost Shinedown quality to it as does Havok, which throws in vocal effects and a distorted production. Pages rounds it off – modern progressive and heavy down tuned guitar.
I enjoy those tracks in the flow of the album, they fit the narrative, but if I’m honest, the main reason I’m listening to them is from a purist’s point of view, in that I want to hear an album start to finish as the artist intended.
 
What I’m really waiting for are the quite masterful melodic epics that bookend those heavier tracks. These are the band at their creative best - as progressive and epic as ever – but also more complex and hook driven than before. They aren’t heavy in the normal sense, but they sure are powerful.
 
Those tracks include the brilliant opening track The Weight, with its symphonic heart; then the even better Flames, which is really just magnificent. Mellow, yet uptempo, melodic yet challenging. It features a wonderful chorus and some inspired guitar playing and keyboard parts.
Loved Ones comes next and is the first of 3 big epics on the album. It’s a little faster and a little heavier, but still fits the new sound. The chorus has an epic feel as does the extended instrumentation.
After The Fire is darker and more guitar driven, but still dramatic and engaging and at 8 minutes goes by in a flash thanks to several different musical passages.
Remember is one of the melodic songs of 2016 so far for me and is in a word – essential. It builds from a soft start to an epic finish that just blows me away every time. The chorus hook is extreme, even if it takes a while to arrive and the interplay between keyboard/guitar and drums is unbelievable.
Chivalry closes the regular album and does it with class. Another 8 minute plus epic, the song travels a few different paths before a great guitar riff plays out over the last minute or two.

Fabulous stuff again from the guys. They reach new levels of commercial melodic accessibility here as well as turning modern for a few tracks too.
Some like myself will favor one style over the other, but it’s still a great listen start to finish and I dare say it could find the band some new fans.
Overall a different beast to the last album, so I expect some folks won’t rate it quite as highly, but there’s still many highlights to appreciate.
 

 

 
Tue
02
Feb

Circus Maximus - "Havoc" Lyric Video (Official / New / Studio Album / 2016)

 
The album teaser that's already causing huge controversy with fans... What do you think?
 
Tue
19
Jan

CIRCUS MAXIMUS Return With 'Havoc' also in Deluxe Edition

Friday, March 18, 2016
Categories: 
News Feed


For you CIRCUS MAXIMUS fans, we'll also be releasing a DELUXE EDITION of their new studio album, HAVOC. The full tracklisting is below. The live tracks were recorded in Japan in 2012! This will be available in both CD and Digital formats.
 
Tracklisting - CD1:

The Weight
Highest Bitter
Havoc
Pages
Flames
Loved Ones
After The Fire
Remember
Chivalry
Loath (Bonus Track deluxe edition only)
 
CD2:
Forging (live)
Namaste (live)
The One (live)
Arrival Of Love (live)
Abyss (live)
Alive (live)
Game Of Life (live)
Last Goodbye (live)

 

 
Fri
18
Dec

Norwegian Progressive Metallers CIRCUS MAXIMUS Return With 'Havoc'

Friday, March 18, 2016
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Norwegian Progressive Metal Masters CIRCUS MAXIMUS to return with “Havoc” the fourth studio album!
Out in March on Frontiers
 
Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce all details of “Havoc”, the eagerly anticipated new album from Circus Maximus, due for release on March 18, 2016.
 
“Havoc” is Circus Maximus’ highly anticipated fourth studio album and one that will certainly make a huge impact on the Progressive Metal scene. The band’s musical formula is not easy to pull off. Take jaw dropping musicianship, singer Michael Eriksen with a voice from the heavens and put it together with hooks, anthemic melodies, and enough groove and heavy riffing to satisfy any prog metal fan, and you’ve got the Circus Maximus sound.
 
The theme on this new album is about moments and experiences in life that lead to love and hate.” says guitarist and producer Mats Haugen.Metaphorically, it's about succumbing to fire and striving to cope with the aftermath of decisions when overshadowed by the love we have for others and ourselves.”
 
Musically the band offers the usual mixture of very heavy moments intertwined with extremely accessible melodies. Songs like “Pages”, the opener “The Weight”, “After the Fire“ and “Remember” show the full range of the Circus Maximus sound. Still, the album has very heavy songs (“Havoc”) and slow and melodic moments (“Loved Ones”) too.
 
The band is set to tour heavily in support of this new release with shows in Europe, US (they are already confirmed for the ProgPower Festival) and more territories to come.
 
The re-defining sound, the songwriting and the clever production, highlights the band as one of the leading, original Progressive-Metal bands around. It’s early yet, but “Havoc” is an absolute contender for Top Album of 2016, transcending the boundaries and subgenres of Hard, Progressive and Metal music. It`s just THAT good – enjoy!
 
“Havoc” tracklisting includes: The Weight; Highest Bitter; Havoc; Pages; Flames; Loved Ones; After The Fire; Remember; Chivalry.
 
 
CIRCUS MAXIMUS
Michael Eriksen – Voice
Mats Haugen - Guitars, backing vox and programming
Truls Haugen - Drums,backing vox and percussion
Lasse Finbråten - Keyboards, samples, programming
Glen Møllen – Bass
 
'Havoc' arranged & performed by Circus Maximus
Produced by Mats Haugen
 
 
 
TOUR DATES
 
23.01.2016 Kungsbacka - Kungsbacka Teater - Sweden
06.02.2016 Oslo - Rockefeller - Norway
13.02.2016 Stavanger - Folken - Norway
27.02.2016 Trondheim - Rockheim - Norway
08.03.2016 Nurnberg - Z-Bau - Germany
09.03.2016 Munchen - Backstage  - Germany
10.03.2016 Pratteln - Z7 Mini - Switzerland
11.03.2016 Brescia - Colony Club - Italy
12.03.2016 Rome - Traffic Club - Italy
13.03.2016 Genova – L’Angelo Azzurro - Italy
15.03.2016 Barcelona - Razzmatazz 2 - Spain
16.03.2016 Madrid - Caracol – Spain
 
08.09.2016 Atlanta - ProgPowerFestival - USA
North & South America Tour in September
More shows TBA
 
 
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