I can remember seeing the Alchemy ads back in the day and that CLOWN ALLEY was one of the main bands on their roster. This was the same record label that put out the first MELVINS disc. Here we are twenty years later and I finally get to hear this. At times they sound like a more prog metal version of NAKED RAYGUN. Vocalist David Duran had a similar style to Jeff Pezziata and RIFLE SPORT’s J. Christopher. The guitars have the thrash metal speed picking that gives it a SLAYER/MEGADETH feel at times as do some of the solos. Lori Black’s (later of THE MELVINS) basslines are as solid and beefy as any of Derryl Jennifer’s were in BAD BRAINS at the time. The single bass driven drums keep this more in the hardcore heap than metal and are unfortunately (like BAD BRAINS “I Against I”) a tad overproduced sonically. This was the case with a lot of underground recordings that were trying to be as slick as their major label counterparts from 1986 on to the early 90’s. I remember when South Florida’s own AMAZING GRACE was still around (who put out a record that was in this vein) there were some of us that liked their demo recordings better.

“Circus Of Chaos” may sound like a product of its time period on the surface, but these guys had a unique approach that still causes some of us to scratch our heads. Mine is quite red and raw at this point. This band had something to offer and it’s too bad there was not at least one other album to check out. This will do fine for now.

- Herring

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