Circus Rhapsody – Just Kidding

Berlin’s Circus Rhapsody recently signed with Californian label Mannequin Vanity Records and are now set to release their sophomore full length, Just Kidding, that follows on from 2015’s Telling Horror Stories, on June 4th. Having not encountered Circus Rhapsody before initial impressions are vague at best, the band’s name is one that could indicate anything from cartoon metal to furious punk rock, although the album title and cover do tell you that this is not going to be a band that take themselves too seriously, but again it leaves you guessing, so the only thing to do is to hit play.

You are welcomed into Just Kidding with Circus, and it seems my initial observations were uncannily accurate, and I promise you they were written before I’d heard a note, the first taste is technical melodic hardcore with a metallic edge. Just as you’ve settled in thinking you know what’s in store the album veers off into some upbeat cartoonish ska punk of Invader Zim, a song that is akin to The Aquabats in their prime. The eclectic theme continues as the album switches randomly between gravel voiced folk punk (Australian Nightmare, Evil and Revolution), straight up catchy punk rock (Captain, Telling Horror Stories, Revelation), stripped down finger snapping rockabilly (Rock ‘N Roll Black Cat), catchy punky power pop (All Hell Breaks Loose) revved up doo-wop (Avenging Angel, Ghost) and even old school hardcore (Rise Above).

Just Kidding is thirteen ring circus, every track brings a different appeal, whilst the scattergun approach of styles can be a bit off-putting the overall feel is one of band that are are here for a good time. Whilst Circus Rhapsody might not have a consolidated identity, the same lighthearted approach applies to everything they do. Trying to pin down Circus Rhapsody is impossible, Just Kidding is the equivalent of putting your collection into a blender and playing the resulting chaos (please don’t actually try that at home). Circus Rhapsody span pretty much the entire punk rock spectrum on their sophomore album, at times it does have the feel of compilation of different bands rather than a coherent album but, and this is an important but, this eclectic and eccentric punk rock collection has something to love for pretty much anyone.