Recent Reviews

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

December 2023

November 2023

[ More Music Reviews ]


Dream Circus: Land of Make Believe
Dream Circus Land of Make Believe Review

Dream Circus: Land of Make Believe

Modern (Melodic) Hard Rock
3.0/5.0

Portugal's Dream Circus wants to make music like it's 1992. Following peers like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, they seek to emulate that sound of d-tuned hard rock and metal mixed with acoustic flavor. Are they getting it? Maybe that's why they call their full-length debut Land of Make Believe.

Dream Circus Band Photo

Dream Circus: nice shorts, let's go golfing.

This album certainly echoes the kings of Nineties alternative rock. But the echo merely translates into a curious but suspicious copy. Is it merely the single or two word song titles? Or the music? Or is James Powell's low register droning, sometimes moaning, vocals akin to Creed's Scott Stapp?

It's not that Dream Circus lacks for enthusiasm or even creativity. For instance, both Crown and Waiting are both familiar and intriguing. Perhaps an homage to the era they revere with subtle flairs of originality. I think the forty-something's of 2012 will get their sound, if only by reliving their youth. Nevertheless, Dream Circus sounds good, and they create the sound that they're going after. I liked much of what I heard, even though the music seems more a fond reflection of past times more than forward thinking, much like what a tribute band might do.

CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.





In Short

On Land of Make Believe, Dream Circus want us to embrace their interpretation of Nineties, mostly grunge, hard rock. They get it, but do we need to go down that road again?

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity Album Review

Once more we return to multi-national band Lords Of Black which features Ronnie Romero (v), Dani Criado (b), Jo Nunez (d), and founder, guitarist, and principal songwriter Tony Hernando. After a three year ... [ Read More ]