Circus Maximus (Norwegian band)

Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus at ProgPower USA 2005
Background information
Origin	Oslo, Norway
Genres	Progressive metal
Years active	2000−present
Labels	Laser's Edge, Sensory, Frontiers
Associated acts	Tritonus, Carnivora, Insense, Aeon Zen
Website	CircusMaximusSite.com
Members	Michael Eriksen Lasse Finbråten Mats Haugen Truls Haugen Glen Cato Møllen
Past members	Espen Storø

Circus Maximus is a Norwegian progressive metal quintet from Oslo. They employ the use of symphonic and power metal influences that feature synthesizers. As of 2016, they have released four albums, The 1st Chapter in 2005, Isolate in 2007, Nine in 2012 and Havoc in 2016.

In 2000 long-time band mates Michael Eriksen (vocals) and brothers Mats (guitar) and Truls Haugen (drums) were joined by keyboard player Espen Storø and Glen Cato Møllen on bass to form Circus Maximus.

Initially being a cover band, they got a lot of positive feedback for their interpretations of technically challenging material from bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X. Before long, the band started to write their own material: With other influences varying from pop/rock through classical progressive rock to heavy metal and death metal, their music synergized into a mixture of melodic and groovy sound with lots of heavy riffs and odd time signatures. In the musical press their sound has been compared to Queensrÿche, TNT, Shadow Gallery, Pretty Maids, Helloween and the like, in addition to the already mentioned bands.