Welcome to the Absurd Circus
{{Infobox album
| name = Welcome to the Absurd Circus
| type = studio
| artist = Labyrinth
| cover = labyrinth-Welcome-To-The-Absurd-Circus.jpg
| alt = Three eerie circus workers in front of a circus on fire in a dark, sinister forest
| released = 22 January 2021
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Power metal|progressive metal}}
| length = {{Duration|m=60|s=19}}
| label = Frontiers
| producer = Simone Mularoni
| prev_title = Architecture of a God
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = In the Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye
| next_year = 2025
}}
Welcome to the Absurd Circus is the ninth album by Italian power metal band Labyrinth, released on 22 January 2021 via Frontiers Records.{{cite web |first=Alexandra |last=Michels |title=LABYRINTH - 'The Absurd Circus'-Video veröffentlicht |url=https://www.rockhard.de/artikel/labyrinth-the-absurd-circus-video-veroeffentlicht_524111.html |website=Rock Hard |publisher=Rock Hard Verlags- und Handels- GmbH |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=German |date=3 November 2020}} It is their first album with drummer Mattia Peruzzi.
It was announced in October 2020.{{cite web |first=Alexandra |last=Michels |title=LABYRINTH - "Welcome To The Absurd Circus"-Album kommt im Januar |url=https://www.rockhard.de/artikel/labyrinth-welcome-to-the-absurd-circus-album-kommt-im-januar_522850.html |website=Rock Hard |publisher=Rock Hard Verlags- und Handels- GmbH |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=German |date=3 November 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Re |first1=Daniele William |title=Labyrinth, il nuovo album ‘Welcome To The Absurd Circus’ in uscita a novembre |url=http://www.metalhammer.it/2020/10/20/labyrinth-il-nuovo-album-welcome-to-the-absurd-circus-in-uscita-a-novembre/ |website=Metal Hammer Italia |accessdate=24 January 2020 |language=Italian |date=20 October 2020}} On 3 November 2020, the video for "The Absurd Circus" was released.{{cite web |title=LABYRINTH To Release Welcome To The Absurd Circus Album In January; "The Absurd Circus" Music Video Streaming |url=https://bravewords.com/news/labyrinth-to-release-welcome-to-the-absurd-circus-album-in-january-the-absurd-circus-music-video-streaming |website=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |accessdate=24 January 2021 |date=3 November 2020}} On 1 December 2020, "Live Today" was streamed.{{cite web |last1=Giorgianni |first1=Stefano |title=Labyrinth, ascolta la nuova ‘Live Today’ |url=http://www.metalhammer.it/2020/12/01/labyrinth-ascolta-la-nuova-live-today/ |website=Metal Hammer Italia |accessdate=24 January 2020 |language=Italian |date=1 December 2020}} On the day of the album's release, "Sleepwalker" was streamed.{{cite web |title=LABYRINTH Streaming New Song "Sleepwalker"; Welcome To The Absurd Circus Album Out Now |url=https://bravewords.com/news/labyrinth-streaming-new-song-sleepwalker-welcome-to-the-absurd-circus-album-out-now |website=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |accessdate=24 January 2021 |date=22 January 2021}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = Metal Hammer Italia
}}
Writing for Metal Hammer Italia, Gianfranco Monese said that the album, as the title suggests, is "a work where the band's trademark is mixed with extravagance, where the songs contain colorful solutions in order to play and sing the illogic of delicate times like these that have in the Coronavirus the icing on the cake". He also thought the album is more guitar-oriented than its predecessor, albeit "in step with the times".{{cite web |last1=Monese |first1=Gianfranco |title=Labyrinth – Welcome To The Absurd Circus |url=http://www.metalhammer.it/recensioni/2021/01/19/labyrinth-welcome-to-the-absurd-circus/ |website=Metal Hammer Italia |accessdate=24 January 2020 |language=Italian |date=19 January 2020}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Welcome to the Absurd Circus track listing
| title1 = The Absurd Circus
| length1 = 6:18
| title2 = Live Today
| length2 = 5:40
| title3 = One More Last Chance
| length3 = 6:12
| title4 = As Long As It Lasts
| length4 = 5:18
| title5 = Den of Snakes
| length5 = 6:34
| title6 = Word's Minefield
| length6 = 5:12
| title7 = The Unexpected
| length7 = 5:06
| title8 = Dancing with Tears in My Eyes
| note8 = Ultravox cover
| length8 = 4:41
| title9 = Sleepwalker
| length9 = 4:25
| title10 = A Reason to Survive
| length10 = 4:30
| title11 = Finally Free
| length11 = 6:23
| total_length = 60:19
}}
Personnel
Labyrinth
- Roberto Tiranti — lead vocals
- Andrea Cantarelli — guitars
- Olaf Thörsen — guitars
- Nik Mazzucconi — bass
- Oleg Smirnoff — keyboards
- Mattia Peruzzi — drums
Additional contributors
- Simone Mularoni — production, mastering, mixing, recording
- Federico Mondelli — artwork