Hailing from Hesse, Germany CIRCLE OF TYRANTS was founded back in 2002 out of the ashes of a cover band. In a short time the band has hooked up a lot of own material where 9 songs got milled on silicone the very first time and now introduce the band to a bigger audience. The Art Of Intensity offers a varied and complex blend of melodic US Power Metal with lots of aggressive parts. Opener Deamonicus starts with the mentioned power metal tunes but surprises with a staccato-like aggressiveness that reminds me of German’s electro-metal merchants Oomph! without the electronic parts, while Revolution afterwards deeply dives into the power metal area with a slightly 80’s touch, with a bunch of guitar solos and some keyboard paintings. Nothing sounds old and dowdy. CIRCLE OF TYRANTS present fast, driving and powerful songs like Empty Eyes, The Maze and Hate but also know how to slow down the pace for mighty ballads with heartsick melodies such as Your Way, I Can’t Believe and I Cry, whereas the latter one slightly hints at Iced Earth’s Melancholy.
All songs have an awesome production in common. Acoustic parts and clean singing are clear, transparent and sophisticated, while the heavier parts own an overwhelming power. It is all vivid and fresh and proves the band’s pleasure to play. The faster songs convince more then the slower ballads that sometimes miss the proper hook.
All things together The Art Of Intensity is a promising debut. And I again the hopes raise that one of the labels finally get its ass up for signing a talented underground band instead of focusing on x-times proved but deadly boring standard fair and making bones.
Besides I think seeing CIRCLE OF TYRANTS playing life should kick some butts, so if there is anyone living close to one the band’s next shows, you should not miss it!