The Art Of Agony
(Crash Music)
44:58min
Never heard a tune, not even recognized the name of this Death Metal band from the USA, I was really surprised by this album. The history of VICIOUS CIRCLE goes back to the year 1989, they released a few demos and “The Art Of Agony” is their third full-length album. Since I do not know the earlier releases nor have any information about the band-history (the band-bio on their homepage is quite short and the promo-sheet by the label is non-existing), I wonder why the name VICOIUS CIRCLE has not become more famous within the Death Metal scene. Obviously they must have problems with their previous labels, because the older tunes (which can be listened to on their homepage) are on the same level like the newer ones. So sadly VICOIUS CIRCLE are an example how stupid and incompetent labels are avoiding people to listen to good music. So what can the decent listener discover on “The Art Of Agony”? Superb Death Metal, fast played, technically brilliant without losing the grip for each song, names like MORBID ANGEL, IMMOLATION or DEATH show up in my mind. Great riffing and soloing, versatile vocals done grunting, shreaking and shouting. The song-writing is quite complex and executed in a sophisticated, technically way, but at every moment the band is taking care of playing songs, i.e. soloing and rhythm changes are done for the benefit of the song, not for themselves. Five songs are older ones re-recorded, but you can not spot them, a prove that VICIOUS CIRCLE always used to write good songs, just due to the labels inconvenience the wider audience did not take notice. I really wish with the new record company VICOIUS CIRCLE will get the attention they deserve. www.viciouscircle.tv
Mirco Szymyslik