CHAPTER 1: THE GAME BEGINS

So let the game begin ... we are invited now to accompany the SONIQ CIRCUS band on a relatively short but beautiful musical journey. In 2010 they already had started to compose new material for a concept that is dealing with experiences around diverse events taking place on a cruise ship. Now in 2022 the band are ready to submit, are aiming to cross the equator. Thus 'Chapter One: The Game Begins' comes as the first out of three releases completing the whole story. And then the album cover illustration reveals a lot. We are travelling with the M/S Harmony. This is probably correlating with ocean cruiser Harmony Of The Seas in real life, having a capacity of more than 6.000 passengers. Markus Nilsson (bass), Marcus Enochsson (guitars), and Christer Ugglin (drums), all the three are core members since the beginning. And then Marco Ledri (keyboards) and singer Alexander Abrahamsson are completing the crew. When playing live from now on, okay, you may imagine the required dress code?

It's their third regular studio album already. But I can't remember that I ever came in touch with the band before. On the other hand, there is quite a huge gap of eleven years to state regarding the forerunner release 'Reflections In The Hourglass'. The album starts with a symphonic, bittersweet and dramatic atmosphere, when it comes to the prelude at least. Furthermore remarkable guitar licks respectively riffs are leading through the main suite Let The Game Begin. The trumpet is serving a jazzy note here and there. Great, that's sophisticated song writing, for what it's worth. No sign of slowing down after that. They are offering an appealing flow from the first to the last minute. Neo prog with a heavy pitch maybe? All in all stylistically seen this is difficult to pigeon-hole. However, it's Progressive Rock from Sweden for sure, simple as that. Please let the game continue ...

SONIQ CIRCUS offers a fruity and symphonic neo prog with this 3rd album, they who started in 2007; they remind me of MAGIC PIE for phrasing and musical research, SPOCK'S BEARD and RUSH, a bit of SAGA. It was precisely by putting SAGA on Google that I came across it in 2011 with 'reflections'. This chapter 1, written more than 12 years ago and dedicated to retracing the events on the M/S Harmony, prints a melodic, contemplative atmosphere on sounds from before and now.

'The Cruise (Prelude)' majestic intro with finesse to the tune of 'Cap'taine coeur de miel' if so; meditation with a reverberating synth à la AYREON, it starts oriental/medieval with 'Let the Game Begin, Part I' strange by the voice, the slow tempo and the trumpet at the start quite bluffing; a heavy tune for the verse, captivating for the quickly assimilated chorus; back-heavy orchestration; break with trumpet which assimilates perfectly, it's well done in fact and the choirs add to it. 'Let the Game Begin, Part II' for the dark phrasing phonic interlude allowing to launch 'Let the Game Begin, Part III' with a twirling intro, a surly and fresh riff, bucolic as I like to describe it, between a JETHRO TULL and a colorful contemplative rock; it's strange because changing, a clean sound that gives rhythm. The synth brings a colorful break between melodic metal and symphonic heavy on RUSH; the final trumpet touch marks the spirit. 'Cold Water' flight of keyboards for the radio edit concentrated vitamin, more rock. 'The Quarrel' for the 80's ANGE synth, rhythmic, intense; the rest falls on the MAGIC PIE just for the typed, phrasing voice; the keyboards become vintage on a CIRCUS MAXIMUS, the expressive used sound of Marco, the guitar of Marcus on an Ian Crichton with an energetic spleen. 'Toccata - The Storm Approaches' for the hook from chapter 2, a divinatory piano arpeggio on the rest of the cruise?

SONIQ CIRCUS offers a heavy neo prog with worked intimate breaks; unclassifiable, modern, symphonic, heavy and fresh just for the addition of the trumpet, a beautiful opus. A young group that he must take the time to listen to.