Havok

I've waited a long time before reviewing this album, which I had made an advance order for on its day of release. This was based on the fact that their first three albums blew me away - especially "Isolate" and "Nine". I think disappointment more than anti-climax best describes my initial feelings. My ongoing exposure to its subtle charms has caused a rethink (and a rating upgrade) but "Havoc" will never be as lovable as the 2 preceding CDs. It certainly lacks the harder edge present on their earlier offerings.The DeLuxe version is the better option to go for though it is now not as readily available. It features a concert performance of their earlier releases on Disc 2 which is both a blessing and a curse. The latter is explained by the fact that, to my ears, the older material is so much more attractive than the new studio release. There is far greater emphasis on powerful dynamic instrumental work apparent from the live recording. I've already reviewed the 3 older studio albums so won't go into those songs again here, other than to inform the program has 8 tracks and a running time of 40 mins and was lifted from a concert in Japan recorded in 2012. The sound is powerful and very full.The standard album has 9 tracks - this version has an unremarkable added bonus "Loath". Newcomers probably rate this higher than longer term fans (the Norwegian "newcomers" were formed in 2000!). This is because there is a totally different feel to the music almost as if a new song writer has changed the musical direction of the band. Michael Eriksen sees much more of the attention on his vocals this time but on songs that lack the charm of their previous releases and sound more contrived. They are still unmistakably Prog Metal but both of those terms have been toned down. There is still phenomenal musicianship but now it's more dispersed. Some of the songs are still very impressive like "Loved Ones" or "After the Fire" which would easily make a "Best of" if they get around to one, but now it sounds they've spent too much time listening to other artists, close to Darkwater in some places and Muse in others. "Flames" is a fine song but is not Prog in any shape or form. They also appear to be striving to come up with anthems and the vocal lines in some of the choruses cast a nod in Bono's direction.Use is made of a number of rhythms that sound more like clever pop than the less contrived tempos of the past and as I've already suggested the prog element has been watered down. I think overall this package deserves 4 stars because of the excellent concert disc. The studio disc is probably about 3.8 because the individual performances are highly accomplished, most of the songs have fine moments like "Pages" which erupts into life after 3 minutes of a fairly insipid number. Arrangements show a lot of thought has been put into this recording. The material though is lacking the inspiration of their previous work

Having been rising in the progressive scene for a number of exciting years now, "Circus Maximus" clearly feel increasing hunger to branch out into the immense musical web-trees, in-order to see and feel, what new musical additions and ideas might work for them. Cue points are duly awarded for the band willing to do this, rather than just sitting idly-by in the fast lane, with one foot on the clutch. Never-the-less, coming out at an acute angle of critical perspective, perhaps these new ideas should have been kept in tandem with the fundamental core sound rather than obliterating it with overtly handled:- soft' regulation.Containing some familiar aspects of enjoyable choruses' chased in-tandem by the fantastic vocalist, (and very much underutilized), "Michael Eriksen"; the entire album just feels like a lightweight consortium, unenthusiastic and non-thriller in-comparison to the first two lavish titles. "Nine" was the album and direction that hit a fairly good mark, with a great balance of progressive perspectives and metal chops a-like. "Havoc" however, goes head first into creamy, low-impact:- AOR progressive pop rock, with metallic flavors in the main. Understandably, fans of the "Isolate" mold are going to be outraged by such a maneuver, (and in my opinion rightly so).I personally align myself here with the middle ground, dipping slightly towards the negative for this album. I just can't quite fathom how this has turned out to be such an excruciatingly soft-ball effort' with an accompanying soundscape that bury's all the peaks of extremity under a smothering blanket of even tone. The entire band are all revving dissently at 50%, but no one is pushing forward, or taking the reins and going for it. It is quite obvious that the band are staring down a kaleidoscope of softer' more commercial adaptations with little in the way of genuine thoughtfulness; and I'm sorry to offend, but this is the type of short-circuiting that isn't gonna cut it with many, and the devaluation of the complexity speaks more volumes than anything I can add.This is truly, utterly, bread and butter progressive rock' of the kind and type' that identikit acts like "Muse" tend to peddle. Synthetic, rubbery, background tranquility.... The balance has shifted too far away from the metallic and atmospheric aspects that are so fundamental in this type of niche metal, these were also some of the best cues this band had for such thrilling and exciting songs. This choice of endeavor is ultimately a very costly one; the band delivers the bare essentials with not a single thread of back-up, leaving a landscape littered with average plodders and a sound that goes nowhere.The band do occasionally commit to some descent melodies, variant tapestries and good quality rhythms, but this all takes a backseat to pop-rock and conventional constructions.... the sensible logic behind "Havoc" may try to convince that it's a band still mastering they're own sound, and that this would require a more downtrodden sound, but the evidence is very much on the contrary. It none-the-less may attract a greater audience with the more mainstream head-nodders, but are the costs involved in doing so:- truly worth it?...

Expectations, it's all about expectations. I was a fan from the moment I heard Glory of the Empire, melodic, intense and textured. That the band were influenced by Symphony X and Dream Theater goes without saying but they have continually matured with each new offering. In my humble opinion from the first CD they had their own distinctive sound, which is the true test for any band but with Havoc that sound has become unique and very much their own. Expectations. A friend of mine listened to Havoc before I had a chance to and was very disappointed. A few weeks passed and I decided to listen again only having heard the first released song, the difference was for me astounding, I absolutely loved it!.It may seem at first less progressive, less technical and more radio friendly but all the elements that make Circus Maximus an awesome band are all there. Stunning guitar work, excellent vocals, superb musicianship, amazing textures and a truly incredible rhythm section. The sound of the drums and bass are in my mind the best so far, the guys have really created a sonic dynamic here which the production has captured and amplified. So if you were initially disappointed I would say listen again without expectations and maybe you will hear what I hear. I am also a massive Muse fan and one track makes it clear that so are Circus Maximus!

Flawless musicianship, how this band are not well known in UK is beyond me. Never a play on Planet Rock, ever!Well who cares its their loss!

I first thought that it was the standard CD and not the deluxe. The audio quality is great and the CD arrived at a good time as well. Happy on the order.