There is a lot of vagueness about CIRCLE CREEK, not least of which is their name, though I think it's more due to a lack notoriety than any clandestine tendencies. The Stoner Rock foursome formed in October 1983 somewhere in the general environs of Austria. They produced a short string of albums including one demo and several EPs. Their latest effort, the full-length "The World Is On Fire," was released on August 5, 2022 on Roar! Rock Of Angels and NRT Records. While it does feature a number of previously recorded tracks, it's probably their most ambitious album to date with 11 tracks and spanning over an hour.

You have to admire the determination of a band like this. They are talented enough, they have a good sense of harmony, and their songwriting acumen is evident but for some reason they never found their break. Christian Zirkelbach's vocals are clean, the riffage and harmonies of brothers Zirkelbach are heavy but not grating, the rhythm section is steady and proficient, and the lyrics are a mix of tongue-in-cheek and the obligatory social commentary about the state of the planet. All that is good, but it also lacks any distinctive inflection. The album is good but not great . . . and that's okay, literally.

The best tracks include the ones that have enjoyed previous appearances-"D.R.U.G.S." and "Killing Factories"-as well as new heavy contenders like "Tell Me Baby" and "Creatures." The bluesy "Closed Eyes" is also intriguing. On the other hand, there are a few tracks that just seem to try too hard. "Journey," for instance has a pop vibe with staccato keyboards and a radio friendly chorus. "Preppers" also falls in that category of too-much-going-on. Bottomline is CIRCLE CREEK are at their best when they stay simple and heavy.

If you missed previous releases by CIRCLE CREEK, "The World Is On Fire" is a good catch-up point. It sweeps up several of their best older tracks and pulls in several new ones. It gives you a sense of where they have been as well as where they are going. A very listenable album for a mainstream Hard Rock audience. Not sure if this is the one that will do it for them, but it puts them on their way.