Circus Maximus

Norway's Circus Maximus emerged as part of the initial surge of progressive heavy metal in the new millennium. The group came together in 2000 with a lineup of seasoned players that included Michael Eriksen handling vocals and guitar, Mats Haugen on guitar, Espen Storø on keyboards, Glen Cato Møllen on bass, and Truls Haugen on drums. Their first full-length release, the 2005 album The 1st Chapter, earned notice for its melodic and song-focused approach, prompting comparisons to Dream Theater and Symphony X. At the same time the ensemble balanced elements of prog metal with power metal.

Lasse Finbråten stepped in for Storø on keyboards ahead of the 2007 album Isolate. With that record the band shifted its songwriting emphasis away from power metal toward more direct melodies. Extensive touring followed, yielding positive critical response both to the album and to the group's forceful stage presence.

Once the road schedule expanded to include multiple festivals across the subsequent eighteen months, Circus Maximus entered an extended hiatus. The collective returned in 2012 with Nine. The ensuing tour opened with an appearance at Japan's Loud Park festival alongside Slayer, In Flames, and DragonForce, then continued through dates in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Another prolonged pause came afterward. In January 2016 the band issued the single "The Weight," which preceded the March arrival of its fourth studio album, Havoc. The live set Havoc in Oslo appeared the following year.