In a way aren’t all circuses, with performance artists, gymnasts and several varieties of animals, circuses of chaos? In this instance, Circus of Chaos refers to this album from San Francisco-based band Clown Alley and is the first of their efforts to be released on CD (by this I mean the format, not that this is their first album). The Alley operates on serious thrash, classically hardcore punk stylings with a rough style that lets you know they mean business. It’s hardcore with crossover appeal (read: not too scary), but hard enough to secure any doubt that these guys are posing. The CD has the feeling of being recorded in someone’s garage, there’s just a stir of echoes that says this wasn’t recorded in some fancy pants studio and it has the slight desperation of someone really wanting to get their music out. The album includes five live cuts that only give you some idea of the band’s frantic stage show.



The Lie

Unplugged

In The Cartoon

On The Way Up

Uranium Miner's Daughter

Pet Of A Pig

The Grey Man

Envy

Theme

The Second Day

The Prey

Radio Promo

Unplugged (live)

On The Way Up (live)

Outro (live)

Brains (live)