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 ...