BATTLE CIRCUS

Battle Circus biography
BATTLE CIRCUS is a New Zealand heavy prog band conceivably constructed out of Marcel BELLVE on guitars and vocals, Yvonne WU on pianos and keyboards, Ryan MARSHALL on bass, and James WHITLOCK on drums (with occasional help from Daniel BOSHER in that regard).

In 2005, the band rolled onto the Auckland scene with "Send In The Clones", a single spouting a sound that crossed the heavier side of alt rock with Slavic motives; the song created a local buzz thanks to a dramatic music video in the Grand Guignol style. The band toured with fellow art poppers THE RED PAINTINGS, developing a complex and theatrical stage show.

While the group could have kept going with their somewhat MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE feel, in 2007 Battle Circus released The Half-Light Symphony; the EP was comprised of four songs that kept the band's hard edge, but showed obvious psychedelic and post-rock influences: sound effects, spoken word, sensitive stretches and 10 minute track lengths. In 2011, they released an eponymous full length album, a collection of alt pop, art rock, carnival piano, and orchestra motions in a single madcap disc.

Easy on the ears, Battle Circus's attention to riffs, choruses and keyboards, as well as their more theatric moments, might call some comparisons to the intelligent, crunchy pop of MUSE; however, the band's heavy undercarriage makes them sound closer to the lush alt metal of PORCUPINE TREE or HAKEN. When drawing out long pieces, expect something like the softer side of classic PINK FLOYD. When viewing a live performance, expect the unexpected (which usually means smoke machines or skeleton costumes. Or both).

The Whistler.