Gig review: DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE – Camden Barfly, 27 February 2014

First time I have seen a gig at Camden’s Barfly and it’s a small, but perfectly formed venue and a good sound. I only caught the last two songs by openers Reverted who played energetic thrash metal, although they have the enthusiasm not overly taken by the songs. Next up Never A Hero who at the start I wasn’t overly taken by, nice riffs but the songs lacked a killer riff or hook. But by the third song in I was enjoying their modern metal style and a frontman who has some decent onstage presence which is often lacking in newer bands. Would certainly go to see them live again that’s for sure.

Schemata Theory hail from Reading and had a few fans in the audience, along with a couple of good t-shirt designs at the merch stall. Two vocalists – a screamo one (or post-hardcore as my more hip daughter calls them!) and a more straight ahead melodic one. Again another energetic set and impressive musicianship for a band that has only been around a few years. They had a good reaction from the crowd, but being honest not a style of music I particularly like. Full credit though for a lively and well received set.

Headliners Deadly Circus Fire released their debut album ‘The King and the Bishop’ to critical acclaim from ’Metal Hammer’ and ‘Prog’ magazines gives some hint of their wide ranging sound of prog metal with some thrash metal and modern metal thrown into the mix.

They come on stage resplendent in Kiss/King Diamond like face paint and from the off its big metal riffs from guitarist Save Addario and the strong vocals of Adam Grant on their opening number ‘House of Plagues’. Next up ‘Leviathan’ as heavy as the name suggests, in particular the massive wall of sound the guitar makes.

Like a mix of classic metal playing with the more fuzzed up noise Queens of the Stone Age love. It’s not all heavy sounds though as ‘The Light Within’ offers some lighter respite and a song dedicated to loved ones that are no longer with us. I had to leave before the end of their set sadly due to the trek back home, however I left mightily impressed by Never A Hero and Deadly Circus Fire, the latter definitely living up to the buzz building up around them.

Review by Jason Ritchie

Deadly Circus Fire setlist:

House of Plagues/ Leviathan/ Threnody/ The King and the Bishop/ The Light Within/ Rise Again/ Her Epitaph/ Devil’s Opera/ Nothing

Deadly Circus Fire appear at HRH Prog in March 2014 and the Les Fest in June

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