FANTASTIC FREAK SHOW CARNIVAL

An excellent album that grows and develops with every listen, "Fantastic Freak Show Carnival" is a remarkably diverse affair. The record plays like a rock opera and joyously combines War of the Worlds-era Jeff Lynne with The Who, circa Tommy. The title track begins to contort towards a more Sabbath/Soundgarden axis before being dragged back into the more melodic by the Brian Wilson infused 'Rejected'.

The problem with KingBathmat is that they are hard to categorise, from the opening haunting rock of "Ghost in the Fire" through to the Steve Hackett/Steven Wilson esque backing harmonies and melody of Sweet Iris, there seems to be a difficulty in determining where KingBathmat stand in the musical arena, they become Progessive Rock on the last 11 minute track "Soul Searching Song", while easily slip into alternative modern rock on "King's Ransom", the former mentioned "Soul Searching Song" is an absolute stunner from begining to end, it evokes early porcupine tree at there most experimental but with the punch of a quality modern production.

Did I mention the sound quality? the production is of the highest standards, multilayered backing harmonies have a glorious warm surround sound to them (sweet iris, ghosts in the fire), and then at the other end of the scale you have layered sledgehammer guitars wielding fearsome riffs. Overall a one of a kind album that defies categorization.