An album full of surprises, Deadly Circus Fire’s second release has taken the multi-national band into new, more exacting territory compared to their 2013 debut The King And The Bishop.
In Darkness We Trust and Animal provide a mouth-watering introduction to the album, with vocalist Adam Grant displaying his diversity, comfortably ranging from the gruff to the smooth. Elsewhere, songs like Victim, Devil’s Opera and the title track allow guitarist Save Addario plenty of opportunities to show deft touches mixed with disciplined aggression. But what really catches the attention is this band’s fondness for melody. This comes through time and again as they meld a leaning towards exhaustive musicianship with a real respect for making songs like House Of Plagues and Aeden accessible on even the most cursory of listens. There’s also an eeriness that permeates the album. Closing tracks Turning The Tide and Universe leave you feeling as if you’ve fallen into the grip of something psychotically appealing, and this brings to the fore the sheer sense of unease they’ve made you feel throughout. The Hydra’s Tailor is an album of blazing worth and conviction.
