STAR CIRCUS – From The Wreckage (2025) *HQ*
Formed in 2019 by frontman & guitarist Dave Winkler, STAR CIRCUS is a British band citing chief influences from the classic rock genre – Queen, Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard and Alice Cooper. The’re mainly comprised of Winkler and bassist Sophie Aurelia Young who also perform lead vocals on one song with a couple of guests doing lead solos from bands as different as Italian rockers Dobermann and UK legends Carcass.
On their new album “From The Wreckage” STAR CIRCUS show their love for all ’80s things however wrapped by a modern production, and all over the album they try to capture the wonderful vibe of that era, the best bit, the music itself, and brought it up to date.
”From The Wreckage” is an absolute hum-dinger all killer feast featuring big hooks, stirring vocals and pounding rhythms. You get huge sing-a-long choruses with some impressive harmonies. It’s a feel-good song collection but there’s some clever writing in their too, the kind of stuff that doesn’t interfere with all the headbanging fun, but that makes each song sound fresh and forward facing.
Nothing is over blown, it’s just about fine melodies and good classic influenced hard rock. With festival season fast approaching this is a must for your Summer playlist.
The album kicks off with ‘Over and Over’ a frenetic riff with tightly squeezed guitar harmonics leading into a chorus with good vocal harmonies, this has a feel like Extreme. ‘Chained to You’ is a single release, a solid riff with dual lead guitar over it reflecting to their Lizzy influence. The chorus is memorable, and the lead break demonstrates their ability to shred a little and add harmony.
They then take a little twist musically into darker territory in title track ‘The Wreckage’, a modern melodic rocker driven by an impressive riff.
Bringing it back to very upbeat, ‘One Hit Wonder’ is simply one of the best pop-rock song of the year (that also rocks) and has some late Seventies Queen on it. A track that bounces and bobs along, with very cool harmonies.
Similarly commercial in nature, ‘Turn the Tide’ has a laid-back feel to the verse and another great chorus. Love the middle pickup lead guitar sound too, which leads into a more distorted sound and a bit more dual guitar. This song has everything.
The guitar riff ‘f ‘Destiny’s Door’ is great when it comes in, overall having the sound and energy of Lizzy’s ‘Emerald’, and of course a good catchy harmony chorus with a bit more dual guitar.
‘Masquerade’ sees Sophie ably taking over vocal duties and there’s a nice chorus sound to the guitar in ‘Floodlights’. The last 2 songs again show off the variety of their music. Yes, there are melodies galore, choruses that are memorable but they show almost 2 sides of the same coin.
First up ‘Last Dance’ a faster more driving riff-based song which is heavy on the groove element. The verses are slightly dark but the chorus is massive and so darned easy to get stuck in your head.
They finish the album with the mid-tempo melodic ‘Two Odds Make An Even’, big thoughtful and still with moments to join in with. The opening reminded me a little of early Soul Asylum before it turns into the sort of storytelling track that songwriters like Tom Petty would write. The harmonies on the chorus are pure Cheap Trick.
STAR CIRCUS kind of mix 70, 80s and 90s melodic hard rock / pop-rock, taking the best of each and weaving it through their songs. “From The Wreckage” is a fabulous album. An album of SONGS, with melodies, vocal harmonies and memorable riffs as well.
The flow is great as it weaves its way, they obviously didn’t throw them together, they positioned them (the songs) for the highs and lows emotionally of the melodies and lyrics. I like my music to rock hard and this does that whilst being incredibly melodic.
In the press notes Dave says about this album that “it’s also a landmark in our evolution from our little project into a fully-fledged rock n’ roll animal” and we agree. You’ll be surprised by STAR CIRCUS versatility.
Highly Recommended
01 – Over & Over
02 – Chained To You
03 – The Wreckage
04 – One Hit Wonder
05 – Turn The Tide
06 – Destiny’s Door
07 – Masquerade
08 – Floodlights
09 – Last Dance
10 – Two Odds Make An Even
Dave Winkler: Lead and backing vocals, guitars, synthesiser
Sophie Aurélia Young: Bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on 7
William Robertson: guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Reuben O’Donoghue: Drums and percussion
Guests:
Owen Palmer: Guitar solo – ‘Over & Over’
Jon Crampton: Lead and rhythm guitars – ‘Chained To You’
Ritchie Mohicano: Guitar solo – ‘The Wreckage’
Santiago Periotti: Lead and slide guitar – ‘Turn The Tide’
Tom Draper: Guitar solos – ‘Destiny’s Door’
William Robertson: Guitar solos – ‘Destiny’s Door’
Sebastián Leiton: Guitar solo – ‘Last Dance’
BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F9B5TBTK
