Isolate

An esteemed acquaintance of mine in the online reviewing community once said to me: "There is Dream Theater... there is Symphony X... and right in the middle there is Circus Maximus." With a bit of thought it seems a pretty curious description considering that Symphony X are probably themselves "right in the middle" – half progressive metal and half power metal – but it is a fairly accurate one too. Halfway between a fully blown prog metal band and a prog/power hybrid would put Circus Maximus at about 75% prog and 25% power metal, and that sums up their debut CD, 'The 1st chapter' pretty well.

This follow-up, 'Isolate', is something of a step away from this territory - on one hand embracing pure prog and on the other taking up a more straightforward direction. That description may come across as slightly misleading – the lofty instrumental acrobatics one would expect from a band like this are present throughout, but with many of the songs running at under 5 minutes the structures have been simplified to at least some extent. Definitely the slender power metal aspect of their sound has been reduced further, and replaced by what could simply be called melodic metal. All the lyrics this time around deal with different emotional and psychological states, and while this does no serious harm to the overall piece, the more grand themes from the first CD that featured on the likes of "Glory of the empire" are missed somewhat.

It can be observed from this shift in style that there is nothing really 'progressive' going on here at all – the style of the music is something that has been done countless times before, and only the 2 lengthy songs, "Mouth of madness" and "Ultimate sacrifice" actually build (or progress) towards something different or more substantial than what they start out as.

But despite this, the songs are mostly enjoyable, and will no doubt please listeners that enjoy hearing the technical prowess of progressive bands, but cannot be bothered putting up with their more self-indulgent excursions. Even "Arrival of love", with its hideously cheesy lyrics and more simplistic musical base that is only interspersed with instrumental flurries, comes across very well. Opposed to this, "Sane no more" is a flashy instrumental extravaganza that hands the spotlight fully the musicians to show off their considerable expertise.

More discerning progressive metal fans may turn their noses up at 'Isolate', and the power metal fans that were drawn in by 'The 1st chapter' may find themselves disappointed, but there is a lot to be said for the bite size prog found on the CD. While being more of a sideward step from a promising debut CD than a great leap forward, Circus Maximus have delivered another quality melodic progressive metal release. The big step-up may come with attempt number 3, but even another CD on this level would be more than acceptable.

(Originally written for http://www.metalcdratings.com/)

Circus Maximus, following in the paths of their forefathers Dream Theater, Pagan's Mind and Outworld, are apparently the next rising star in the Prog universe - as this release shows them breaking down more walls with the intricacy and complexity of their world-shattering debut, yet also with an added spoonful of hooky, catchy goodness that will reel you in and keep you there for the entire duration of this album. I love when bands do this - to just bust out complex, involving metal songs that keep you interested and never come out of your head after one or two listens. There are thousands of bands with one or the other, but I seem to find it a rarity for a band to possess both at the same time - which Circus Maximus indeed do on Isolate.

That being said, I like this album better than the debut. The debut is surely a great album, and a grower, but it is dwarfed by the more polished production and heightened level of songwriting ability that Isolate packs within. The band sounds tight and memorable here, and there are no lengthly 19 minute epics to get lost in, and no weak spots at all. Surely the debut will grow on you, but this album has everything that one has, with the added bonus of being able to enjoy it immensely the first time you spin it, and that is a huge plus to me, despite what the more avid Prog fans might claim. The choruses here might be pop-sensible at times (see "Abyss" and "Arrival of Love" for the most blatant examples) but they work extremely well, and serve as a delightful ploy to pull you in before crushing you under a wall of sonic pleasure. And fuck, it's just catchy. That is not a crime, nor has it ever been.

For those who don't know, this band is musically the reincarnation of such bands as Dream Theater circa 1991, but there are very distinct shades of Pagan's Mind's majestic outer-space touch making themselves known as well. Just picture a more modern, heavenly sounding Images & Words and you'd get something like what this album sounds like. Michael Erikson's vocals are right in the middle of James LaBrie's charismatic croon and Nils K. Rue's spacey warble, and I have to say his vocals here are a highlight even amongst Isolate's many highlights. The choruses he belts out are infectious and sticky. and they have a very dreamlike, celestial quality to them, shining with a bright, almost visible radiance that will steal your attention even from the luscious, colorful shades of progressive masterpiece on display in the musical department. Almost every vocal line here sparkles with a heavenly shine that serves to endlessly captivate and dazzle the listener with power and emotion to spare. It's a very early Dream Theater-ish quality, and one I have dearly, dearly missed as they don't really do it anymore - one of my favorite components of early Dream Theater's sound. Just pick a song here, and it will - guaranteed! - have some of the best Prog vocal lines you've heard since Images & Words.

Not to say the vocals are the strongest point here, as they are just one of several high points on this grandiose, epic masterpiece. The instrumentation here is nearly flawless, and every song is, as is expected for Progressive Metal, pulled off with a sharp, concise sense of melody and songwriting power reminiscent of a band that has been doing this for years. Heavy, sparkling passages of musical grandeur ("A Darkened Mind") combine with soft, synth-drenched Prog Rock passages ("From Childhood's Hour," "Zero") to make for quite the endearing and pleasant listen, even for the casual metalhead.

This is an album full of standouts. No real weak points at all, and I'd be hard pressed to go searching for one. Circus Maximus are going to be fucking huge. Highly, highly recommended to Prog fans and metalheads in general - this is one of the very best albums of 2007, and I'm not going to be the only one to say so at the end of the year.

Originally written for http://www.metalcrypt.com