Cardiff alt rockers Kyshera release their third album entitled Circle through Konic Records. This album shows a vast change in direction for the band previously described as “Warped Genius” by Radio 1 and a “magnificent cacophony” by Classic Rock, due to their relentlessly alternative & progressive lean – Circle, however, sees the band at their most accessible. Gone are the myriad odd times, style changes, noise shocks & heavily politicised lyrics – Circle instead explores the song format and sees the band at their most melodic...

For hard rock fans, Kryshera's Circle is like a loving homage to rock bands of the '80s/'90s. There's elements of Scorpions woven throughout the album. That's not to say that Kryshera is mimicking Scorpions, far from it, what I mean is that in their scope and approach to the genre the two are very similar.

Circle is a wonderfully polished offering that will appeal to those that feel that hard rock has become bland in recent years. Lyrically, this is a concept album with a story based around a central character and the journey of his life in the modern age. His rise from the bottom to the top of our consumerist, celebrity culture only to realise that in doing so, it came at the price of losing everything that was 'real' and on the last song, he dies alone. Themes explored throughout are death, morality, celebrity, love and consequence.

The album contains 12 tracks (47 min) and will find a welcome home in many a rocker's collection.

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Nick Smithson