RISE MAXI-SINGLE

Shadow Circus's music has appealed to me ever since their masterful release of "Whispers and Screams" so I was eager to get hold of this maxi single. The two new songs featured on the single are 'Daddy's Gone' and 'Rise'.

'Rise' is definitely the drawcard of this maxi single encompassing all that is great about the band, sweeping keyboard signatures by the incomparable David Silver, and a rhythm machine of Matt Masek's bass, and Jason Brower's drums. The song begins with a melodic guitar figure and builds to dramatic chugging bass and distorted guitar. The sig changes meter as the vocals come in strongly; "Madmen rule with iron fists and cruel intentions, decimate the promised land, rebels rise to fight the warlords cry to battle, blood will spill across the sand." There is a storng chorus that has an infectious melody and this really hooks into your system immediately. It gets heavier as it launches into a dirty guitar fuzz with psychedelic effect. It settles into a piano and nice harmonies from the band. The guitar solo to follow is spiraling to a high place, with an delicate beauty. The sounds remind me of Pink Floyd though a bit heavier in the guitars. In fact on cue the guitar licks gain tempo and get more aggressive. It leads to the chorus; "we will have the right, we will win the fight, we will stand forever strong, with the force of thunder we will rise."

'Daddy's Home' is a ballad with a stirring lyrical content. The piano driven song is quiet and emotively sung by David Bobick "I look to the skies and I feel your love, I don't know why but I feel it above, Just another chance to see you again, They say there's no hope can't I just pretend, So give me a sign when you're coming back home." The lead break is soaring and executed with huge string bends and sustain by the extraordinary John Fontana. The song is taken from the upcoming concept album that will be out in 2011 based on Madeleine L'Engle's science fantasy novel, "A Wrinkle in Time". If this is any indication of what to expect this should be a treat for prog addicts.