Circus Maximus - new prog metal band

I just bought Circus Maximus - The 1st Chapter. I think it's a really good album. I've read the reviews ... I think the album is severely underrated. It's obvious that they listened to Dream Theater and Symphony X a lot ... but in this case I don't really mind. They're really trying to be creative, and IMO they blend those influences quite nicely.

Any thoughts? BTW: I've added their homepage to my link database ... you can download two full songs there.

TheProgtologist wrote: One of the few times I don't agree with you Mike.Nothing in their music really grabbed me,and I found their album pretty derivative and unoriginal.Quite simply,they bored me,and that doesn't happen to often.

Maybe I will arrive at the same conclusion ... it was just a first impression. We'll see ...

Actually I think they're very inspired ... at least by Dream Theater and SyX. 

Currently listening to The 1st Chapter (the epic) ... I agree that they stole the overture concept from The Odyssey.

goose wrote: New? Where were you six months ago? If you don't already, check out http://www.lotfp.com/WebContent.htm from time to time. It's not updated very often, but there're some interesting (for me) metal bands covered in there. Although, it's certainly a little... opinionated . Oh, and ignore the pro wrestling coverage

Maybe they are new to Mike,even though the album has been out for a little while,it was released in 2005 and is still a relatively new release.

I like it a lot.  I agree it hasn't been finding its way into my CD player that often, but when it does it sticks around for 2 or 3 spins.

Is it derivative?  Well, yeah, but how can prog-metal be called prog-metal without being derivative of something?  How often do you find a POS or Opeth?  As for me, give me well-written, well-performed, well-produced prog metal and I say screw derivative or original.  Unless they are blantantly ripping off licks or lyrics, it's art. 

So, yeah, thumbs up for Circus Maximus.

I agree with everything you said, goose.  Those bands are definitely original.  Some of them are even good.  I guess it's just another example of how fluid and nebulous the definition of prog really is.  It means something different to everyone.  You obviously give more weight to originality and technicality, I give more weight to, for lack of a better word, listenability.  I know it's a fluffly term, and I know you're going to say why don't I just go listen to Billy Joel and Elton John, but this is the kind of stuff that I really like.  I grew up with Iron Maiden, Fates Warning, and Rush, found Dream Theater in my early twenties, and Pain of Salvation and Opeth in my early thirties.  These are the seminal bands that have influenced my notions of what music is and should be.  So if another band comes along that shares traits with any of these bands, I'm probably going to like them, rather than bash them for not being original.  To me, the act of writing, performing, and recording such incredibly beautiful and complex music IS original.

I'm in contact with the keyboardist and the bassist and they seem to LOVEEEE DT, maybe that's why their new album is so "DTish"

Anyways, the First Chapter is a pretty good offering, easily one of the best of this year.