THE 1ST CHAPTER

Promising debut from melodic power proggers in Circus Maximus. Production could use more range, and album does have some cute growth issues (youth maximalism), such as let's-outdo-everybody instrumental (which is actually not bad) and lets-write a 20- minute epic at all costs (which comes across as a poor Symphony X copy). But the album displays a supreme sense of melody, which usually take a couple of albums for other bands to achieve, and some tasteful playing, such as dark, but classy ballad Silence from Angels Above and a tasteful historical epic Glory of the Empire. Other than that, it features great rocker Sin, 80s metal influenced Alive, and more.