CIRCLES END

A few friends from Kristiansand, Norway started this group in 1994 with the utopic aim to become rock stars, initially using the name Venture to soon rename themselves Plethora, under which they performed the first ever gig.With a dose of self-knowledge the band changed the name again to Circles End and focused on developin their skills in a more progressive style.In summer 1998 the company of guitarist Trond Lunden, bassist Helge Finne, drummer Jarle Pettersen and guitarist/singer Omar Emanuel Johnsen along with guest keyboardist Ruben Gentekos self-produced a self-titled EP, which ended in record companies, distributors and magazines.

The album has an intense RUSH-like powerful atmosphere throughout, eventually reminding a lot of US progsters TILES and, in a lesser extent, ENCHANT, with energetic compositions, strong grooves, a good production and an even better deep atmosphere.However the vocals are a bit of letdown, being slightly distorted and rather colourless.The guitar duo of Lunden and Johnses has plenty to offer with some great guitar exercises, breaks and solos to be found during the listening, at times even flirting with Progressive Metal in the vein of FATES WARNING and XERXES.The influence of ALEX LIFESON is more apparent on the first couple of Heavy Rock tracks, later the album sounds even heavier and groovy.The keyboard work of Gentekos remains steadily in the background with just a few piano and synth parts being distinct, while the rhythm section has an incredible amount of energy with some very technical performances to be met at moments.

Nice and sufficiently dynamic guitar-based Heavy/Progressive Rock in the vein of TILES and RUSH with a fair dose of technique, so if you are a fan of the style, grab this if you ever run over a copy.Overall recommended.