Vices

by Circus of Power

Overview

In the '80s, having a Hollywood address wasn't a prerequisite for playing pop-metal -- Bon Jovi, Britny Fox, and Cinderella were all from the East Coast. Nonetheless, much of the pop-metal action was in Los Angeles, the city that gave listeners Guns N' Roses, Moetley Cruee, Warrant, L.A. Guns, Poison, Quiet Riot, Skid Row, and countless others. Some of Circus of Power's fans wondered if the band would have been bigger if they had been based in L.A. instead of New York; others argued that Circus of Power's lack of commercial success was due to inadequate promotion rather than location. Whatever the reason, Circus of Power's albums weren't big sellers -- although they weren't without their pleasures. Vices, the New Yorkers' third album, is a good example of the type of trashy, decadent, sleazy hard rock that they were known for. Lyrically, Circus of Power embraces the same life-in-the-fast-lane themes that made Guns N' Roses famous; Circus' writing isn't as strong or as consistent as that of Axl Rose and his colleagues, but the parallels are definitely there. Everything that Guns N' Roses wrote about -- sex, drugs, promiscuous women -- is also a theme on Vices, which was produced by Daniel Rey and finds lead singer Alex Mitchell leading a lineup that includes Ricky Beck Mahler and Gary Sunshine on guitar, Zowie on bass, and Ryan Maher on drums. Without question, Circus of Power is highly derivative; no one will accuse tracks like "Last Call Rosie," "Doctor Potion," and "Junkie Girl" of trying to reinvent the hard rock wheel. Nonetheless, the material is decent more often than not, and even though Circus of Power was never in a class with Guns N' Roses or Moetley Cruee, Vices points to the fact that the band did have their moments. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	06/07/2011
Label:	Rock Candy
UPC:	0827565056972

Tracks

1. Gates of Love
2. Desire/Fire in the Night
3. Two River Highway
4. Vices
5. Don't Drag Me Down
6. Last Call Rosie
7. Doctor Potion
8. Los Angeles
9. Got Hard...
10. Temptation
11. Junkie Girl
12. Simple Man/Simple Woman
13. Gates Of Love
14. Call of the Wild
15. Los Angeles
16. Vices
17. How Many More Times

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Circus of Power   Primary Artist
Gary Sunshine   Guitar
Zowie   Bass
Ryan Maher   Drums
Ricky Beck Mahler   Guitar
Alex Mitchell   Vocals

Technical Credits

Bob Smith   Assistant Engineer
Garry Lyons   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Jon Astley   Remastering
Daniel Ray   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Ria Lewerke   Design,Art Direction
Derek Oliver   Liner Notes
Pietro Alfieri   Design,Art Direction
John Eder   Sketches,Photography
Curt Evans   Reissue Design
Bryce Goggian   Mixing
James Venarchick   Mixing
Circus of Power   Composer
Malcolm Dome   Liner Notes
Joe Pirrera   Assistant Engineer
Michael Gilbert   Assistant Engineer
George Marino   Mastering
A. Mitchell   Composer
Thom Cadley   Assistant Engineer
Alex Mitchell   Photo Courtesy