Written by Fat & Sassy! on 20.06.2012 at 23:27

...... sound familiar to another prog band we all know and (probably used to) love? XD

Mmmm, I started appreciating them a lot more after seeing how hard they can suck, when they do suck. Though, actually, the new stuff wasn't much worse than Sys Chaos, but on SC they had the excuse of not being in their comfort zone. Here they did what they always do and it fuckin' sucked.

Written by Fat & Sassy! on 20.06.2012 at 23:27

Written by [user id=106198] on 20.06.2012 at 21:55

I suspect that they literally believe that sucking wins you more fans in the mainstream. "No no no we can't make these lyrics good, and we sure as hell can't be interesting and explosive here, that kind of awesomeness just scares people away"

Or at least that's what it sounds like sometimes. A handful of great songs redeems the album.

Listening to this and then listening to Isolate yesterday made me change my vote to a 7. The contrast is just too stark. Compared to what they have done before it's a letdown. But compared to other bands playing pop songs it's quite good. I actually like I Am despite it's ultra Coldplayiness. And a few of the other pop songs. But it's just lower quality than you could expect from them. Many of the chances that they had to make it incredible were squandered.

Judging by their YouTube videos about the album... I'm not sure if targeting a broader audience by making the album more "accessible" was their intention. To me, it seems like the drummer is the only guy who really likes playing the heavier stuff.

...... sound familiar to another prog band we all know and (probably used to) love? XD

Ah, I see. I should go watch those. Heh, yes certain -other- bands have gone vanilla on us too. At least Symphony X is still true blue.

I don't even really need fast metal from them, I like rock just fine. But if they're intent on sounding like Coldplay when they could be sounding like Queensryche I will respectfully cringe and sigh At least they haven't abandoned the hard rock all together. If a schizophrenic mix of pop, rock and metal will make them happiest then so be it.

Written by [user id=106198] on 21.06.2012 at 00:39

If a schizophrenic mix of pop, rock and metal will make them happiest then so be it.

I have a soft spot for prog bands doing pop, but I hate Coldplayish stuff. I guess the only way is to listen to this and promptly be scarred. Curse you CM.

Written by Milena on 21.06.2012 at 08:13

Written by [user id=106198] on 21.06.2012 at 00:39

If a schizophrenic mix of pop, rock and metal will make them happiest then so be it.

I have a soft spot for prog bands doing pop, but I hate Coldplayish stuff. I guess the only way is to listen to this and promptly be scarred. Curse you CM.

Yeah I have nothing against pop, I like it sometimes, but it's just a letdown for me to hear CM playing it because their sound on the first two albums was so amazing. I actually like the Coldplayish songs, but again, it's what could have been that's the letdown.

Definitely listen. There are brilliant moments. The first song is fantastic and there are good moments all around the album.

Written by [user id=106198] on 21.06.2012 at 08:56

...it's what could have been that's the letdown.

If I had a penny for each time those words came out of my mouth...
Man, being a metal fan is fuckin' painful, you know what I mean?

Written by Milena on 21.06.2012 at 08:58

Written by [user id=106198] on 21.06.2012 at 08:56

...it's what could have been that's the letdown.

If I had a penny for each time those words came out of my mouth...
Man, being a metal fan is fuckin' painful, you know what I mean?

Fo' real. They really jerk us around sometimes. I guess it's progressive to go from prog to pop. You can't just stay prog, that's not prog

I hate retards who rate albums 1 to take them out of the top 20.

Written by Nicko's Nose on 26.06.2012 at 17:53
I hate retards who rate albums 1 to take them out of the top 20.

Deleted the votes of the user... all kinds of 10s and 1s with very little in between.

Well this is.. something different I suppose, can't really fault them in that respect. Leaves me somewhat cold though, much like their last one. Its impressively well played and produced but the songwriting is just the opposite and generally unimpressive. They've come quite a distance in terms of sound from their debut, but its just too far for me and they seem to have lost their identity, or at least the one I really enjoyed on their debut.

The more I listen to it, the more I love it.

I don't hear any Coldplay influnces/sound. WTF?!

Written by [user id=17278] on 02.07.2012 at 21:21

The more I listen to it, the more I love it.

I don't hear any Coldplay influnces/sound. WTF?!

Me neither , reminds me mostly though like Europe playing progressive power :p

What an album, must of played it about 20-30 times, 'Nine' is sheer joy and needs to be heard. Circus Maximus have taken the crown as kings of progressive rock..........ABSOLUTE MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT.

Written by R'Vannith on 02.07.2012 at 19:32

Its impressively well played and produced but the songwriting is just the opposite and generally unimpressive.

I agree. The musicianship is top notch but the songs aren't as complicated and complex as the last two releases. It seems more power metal than prog. I do like the album tho

Written by tea[m]ster on 15.09.2012 at 21:19


I agree. The musicianship is top notch but the songs aren't as complicated and complex as the last two releases. It seems more power metal than prog. I do like the album tho

Yeah they're great musicians for sure and I appreciate that they tried to shake things up and everything but it just sounds like Circus Minimus now I'll admit though it is an interesting change, just one I can't seem to get into as much..

As someone who didn't thoroughly enjoy their previous two, this new one was a great punch in the face! I think the balance of Prog Metal and Prog Rock is just fine on "Nine". I feel the album could probably have been even better with less light-hearted poppy numbers and a couple more proggish heavier tunes, but I still think it's a great album from beginning to end.

Getting into this album has also resulted in "Isolate" really growing on me as the masterpiece that it truly is! I like the band's evolution as well, "Nine" has this atmosphere that is almost the opposite of "Isolate". It's more hopeful, free, loose and more laid-back in comparison to the compact, dark and angsty feeling of the previous one. Killer album, mission accomplished.

So looking back a bit in hindsight, this album has maybe... 3 good songs (Architect Of Fortune, Burn After Reading, and Last Goodbye) on it? But boy, are they fantastic. Everything else is boring, if not incredibly annoying. Once the initial surprise wears off, we're only left with stupid, sterile pop songs. :/

"Nine" gets nine from me. While it is true that they softened a bit, using a lot of melodic metal, and even hard rock influences (someone mentioned Europe playing prog/power), the thing I lvoe so much about this band, is that they know how to make a song, not just use songs to display their instrument playing skills. Eriksen is firmly one of the top vocalists in metal today. Not as perfect as "Isolate" was but still, fantastic album. Oh and I love how they build up from some simple pop melodies to some epic monumental progressive parts.

Written by RhaegarTargaryen on 25.12.2012 at 13:09

"Nine" gets nine from me. While it is true that they softened a bit, using a lot of melodic metal, and even hard rock influences (someone mentioned Europe playing prog/power), the thing I lvoe so much about this band, is that they know how to make a song, not just use songs to display their instrument playing skills. Eriksen is firmly one of the top vocalists in metal today. Not as perfect as "Isolate" was but still, fantastic album. Oh and I love how they build up from some simple pop melodies to some epic monumental progressive parts.

Well said! And great review.

Thank you

Great album in my opinion, 8 from me

Written by Milena on 21.06.2012 at 08:58

Written by [user id=106198] on 21.06.2012 at 08:56

...it's what could have been that's the letdown.

If I had a penny for each time those words came out of my mouth...
Man, being a metal fan is fuckin' painful, you know what I mean?

Milena.. ;__ ;

Gotta say that after enjoying both of their first albums, this one is a huge letdown to my ears, it's too bland, too "safe", seems like they wanted to appeal to a higher audience instead of having the balls to make something Progressive. The worst part is that judging by the type of music, seems like they'll only get softer and softer...

Strange. I consider this one far better than their previous works.

This is one of my favorite prog metal albums and one I listen to most frequently. It sits nicely between too easy on the ears and too proggy (showing off techincality, rather than songwriting skills). This might actually be the best CM album for me.

Disappointing at first but after many years and countless listens that has changed. NINE is possibly CIrcus Maximus best album and that says a lot, Mats Haugens guitar work is extremely impressive!

Architect Of Fortune, one of the best songs in the genre and my favorite CM song...but Isolate still wins over this one. I prefer the sinister, darker side with a bit of power metal music and vocals in the mix which was on Isolate...

It seems that you have to sit through alot of pop to reach the progressive gems in this album, if only you could extract the gold out of this and spin it into an EP, That would be awesome enough. But it's a generous 7 from me.

I'd give this a 10 if it wasn't for weak song like Namaste (good opening riff tho) or The One, or Used. Great songs like Architect of Fortune, Reach Within, I Am, and Last Goodbye. Really like this one.

Massive nostalgia bias. When I finally get around to listening to this again the rating may go down...

Nope, I now love it more. Every song is great.