Circus Black

Circus Black
Studio album by Amberian Dawn
Released	February 29, 2012
Recorded	2011
Genre	Symphonic metal Power metal
Length	41:05
Label	Spinefarm/Universal Music Group
Producer	Tuomas Seppälä
Amberian Dawn chronology
End of Eden (2010) Circus Black (2012) Re-Evolution (2013)

Circus Black is the fourth full-length album by Finnish symphonic power metal band Amberian Dawn.

Stratovarius vocalist Timo Kotipelto provides lead vocals on "Cold Kiss" and keyboardist Jens Johansson (Stratovarius, Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force) contributed a keyboard solo on "Crimson Flower."^[1]

The band commented on the album: "Circus Black is the most impressive AD album so far. Musically it represents the most sophisticated and most symphonic edge of AD-music. There’s more diversity on this album than never before. This is the first time we used a real choir and we gathered some really excellent professional opera singers together to be able to achieve the best sounding choir possible. This choir was conducted by Mikko P. Mustonen from Pathos Music. He also arranged the choir and orchestral parts. We managed once again to get some world-class guests on this album. So, the production is our biggest so far and the final polish on this album was given by Teropekka Virtanen (mixing engineer) and Mika Jussila (mastering engineer) at legendary Finnvox Studios in Finland." This album also marks the final album of the band to feature lead vocalist Heidi Parviainen as well as lead guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen and drummer Heikki Saari.

Track listing

All music by Tuomas Seppälä, all lyrics by Heidi Parviainen

1. "Circus Black" - 3:48
2. "Cold Kiss" - 3:30
3. "Crimson Flower" - 4:23
4. "Charnel's Ball" - 4:46
5. "Fight" - 3:19
6. "Letter" - 4:28
7. "I Share with You This Dream" - 3:36
8. "Rivalry Between Good and Evil (Instrumental)" - 3:59
9. "Guardian" - 5:09
10. "Lily of the Moon" - 4:07
11. "Guardian (Instrumental) (Japanese bonus track)" - 5:09

Music Video

Cold Kiss is the only song on the album to have its own music video, which was officially released through Spinefarm Records in early March, 2012. The video caused controversy because people wrongly interpreted its meaning. It features Timo Kotipelto being bitten by vampires.

Personnel

Band members

• Heidi Parviainen - vocals
• Tuomas Seppälä - keyboards, guitar, producer, engineer
• Kasperi Heikkinen - guitar
• Kimmo Korhonen - guitar
• Jukka Koskinen - bass
• Heikki Saari - drums and percussion

Guest musicians

• Timo Kotipelto - vocals on track 2
• Jens Johansson - keyboard solo on track 3
• Nils Nordling, Tuomas Nieminen - vocals on track 7
• Armi Pävinen - backing vocals on track 2
• Mikko P. Mustonen - orchestral and choir arrangements, programming, conductor

Technical personnel

• Lari Takala - engineer
• Tero-Pekka Virtanen - mixing
• Mika Jussila - mastering

References