Artist description Heavy Progressive Doom Metal band from the Murder Capital of the World Washington DC! Killer Vocals,Razor sharp Lead Guitar, Rumbling Bass and MONSTROUS drums. Haunting Dark Lyrics. Combined with Elements of Doom, Prog, and Thrash.

Music Style Heavy Metal

Musical Influences Black Sabbath, Savatage, AIC, Dream Theater, Alice Cooper,

Similar Artists AIC, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Metallica, Trouble, Dream Theater,

Artist History "Circle of Nero" was formed By Drummer/Song Writer Jake Vorrath in the Fall of 96. Since then the band has recorded a full length "Multi Media" CD "Massive Obliss" (which contains a full length video for the title track)and has played with such National acts as Blue Oyster Cult,Savatage,Fates Warning,Yngwie Malmsteen,Quiet Riot and many more.

Group Members Jake Vorrath - Drums/Chicago, IL; Koky Flores - Guitar/Lima, Peru; Thomas Staples - Bass/Fredericksburg, VA; Gary McCaffrey - Vocals/Boston, MA; Scott Carter - Keys & Samples/Stafford, VA

Instruments Drums, Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keys & Samples

Albums Brutal Harvest (tentative release Fall 2002), Massive Obliss

Press Reviews Circle of Nero Massive Obliss (Self Release) As reviewed in METAL MANIACS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2000 FIRING SQUAD BY: ULA GEHRET The package submitted by Virginian quartet CIRCLE OF NERO was particularly impressive, with its professionally-designed artwork, a nicely packaged disc with a stylish layout (courtesy of Digital Apocalypse Studios, the same group responsible for Darkane's similarly impressive Rusted Angel), a press kit, etc. In other words, the boys came to play, yes, but they understnd that music is more than anything else a business. However, they manage to back it up well enought, so who's to fault them? Their brand of "haunted metal" is sort of dark, midpaced thrash with some quick jabs of double-bass, while vocalist Doyle Stone has a reedy delivery that's closer to Ozzy in terms of range than their packaging might otherwise suggest. It's all well done with some mature songwriting and performances, and I never know quite how to describe this breed of "dark/doomy power metal" that includes some other well-respected bands like Evergrey and Braindance. It's not my favorite blend, but it has more than its share of followers and consistently results in classy (albeit well-calculated) releases such as this one. No ordering price given, so you'll have to inquire as to price of the multimedia-enhanced, album-length CD, Massive Obliss, by writing CIRCLE OF NERO, P.O. BOX 1594, STAFFORD, VA 2255Circle of Nero Massive Obliss (Self Release) As reviewed on SONIC NOISE ON-LINE MUSIC EZINE February 2000 Massive Obliss does well to carve out a niche of its own in the world of thrash metal. This 10 song slab of darkness and angst also finds a way to convey a sense of introspection and other worldly understanding. That is not something you will find in many bands of this genre and is one of the reasons that this band stands out from the crowd of fellow metal bands. While the music and vocals are hard edged, it is the lyrics that carry the weight of the album. "You tell me lies all of the time/Why don't you tell me the truth/You say I'm crazy and its all in my mind/You say I'm stuck in my youth/The bridge is gone but I must get across... I can be a million miles away/Out on this lonesome highway/The pavement fades to black/Your eyes don't shine so brightly now/I'll never be back/But I can be a million miles away..." These lyrics come from the song, "Million Miles Away." This isn't the kind of lyrical poetics that I would normally associate with thrash metal, and it came as a wonderful surprise. It is nice to see a metal band show a side other than rage. It is this type of poetic lyricism that sets Circle of Nero apart from their contemporaries. The songs still rip like razors, but while this band lives on the dark side, they are still able to comprehend the tragedy that it brings. R.H.

Additional Info The Massive Obliss CD CONtains a Full length video for the song

Location Stafford, Va - USA

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