Atomic Rooster – Circle The Sun
Before reviewing Circle The Sun, the first all-new studio album to sport the name Atomic Rooster in over four decades, let’s address the elephant in the room, or rather the rooster that isn’t in the room, and hasn’t been since his sad passing in 1989, the band’s creative and founding mainstay for some fifteen years, keyboardist Vincent Crane.
Given only guitarist Steve "Boltz" Bolton features from the band’s classic, early 70s period, and only on one album (1972’s Made In England) there’s the almost obligatory argument of "band or brand," or whether the name even applies.
But the 21st century reality is there is no argument, because this is the classic rock reality for countless late 60s, 70s and 80s bands who have become legacy acts, keeping the spirit of the original (a)live and well and, in a few cases, honouring that legacy with new, sounds-like material.
Such is the case with Steve Bolton who, with the blessing of Vincent Crane’s widow, reformed the band in 2016 with another 70s era Rooster, singer Pete French (who would depart in 2023) and bassist Shug Millidge.
In 2017 Hammond & keys player/ vocalist Adrian Gautrey joined, followed by drummer Paul Everett in 2020.
More importantly, the Bolton-Gautrey-Millidge-Everett quartet have, with Circle The Sun, delivered a strong ten track album (five each from the songwriting pen of Bolton & Gautrey) that can be seen and heard as a love letter to the band’s original dark, psychedelic-prog sound.
Indeed, opener 'Fly Or Die,' which sports a great, earthy vocal from Adrian Gautrey and a tasty, eastern-tinged solo from Steve Bolton, has that perfect balance of gothic darkness and early 70s rock aesthetic (particularly on the up-tempo instrumental section). As such it would have sat comfortably on Atomic Rooster’s second, and archetypal album, Death Walks Behind You.
That classic Atomic Rooster sound is also heard on the title track, which comes equipped with a subtle, blues boogie underbelly and ritualistic lyric ("Voodoo me up when I choose to, your magic don’t hold me now").
The brooding and downtempo 'Never 2 Lose' makes its impact through a hypnotic rhythm and a repeated, eerie chant ("Time may pass but I will still remain"), which sits behind a suitably dark, spoken word section (bowing out on a sinister "it’s curtains for you!", followed by an unsettling chuckle).
'Walk With Me' and 'Rebel Devil' are great examples of dark gothic rock 'n' roll, Atomic Rooster style (some great Hammond soloing on both from Adrian Gautrey), before the unsettling eeriness returns with, first, 'No More' (a song early-era Alice Cooper Band would have loved to have called their own) and the ghostly, downtempo arrangement of 'Pillow.'
The mid-tempo, pseudo funky blues of the Hammond led 'Last Night' is a nice change-up, while 'First Impression' is a more rockin' take on the Atomic Rooster sound, complete with nifty six-string work from Steve Bolton and, again, some great splashes of Hammond. An album highlight.
Closing number 'Blow That Mind' is equally impressive, mixing and matching old-school Atomic Rooster with a driving, rock-blues rhythm.
Circle The Sun, which sports a solid production courtesy of Phil Wilson (who also provides additional percussion), has its more contemporary sheened moments, but its greatest gift is in celebrating the classic era of Atomic Rooster some half a century later, through brand new, genuinely impressive, material.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Atomic Rooster will be back out on the road in early 2026
February
19th – Aberdeen, Drummonds
20th – Paisley, The Bungalow
21st – Kinross, Backstage at the Green
22nd – Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre
23rd – London, The Half Moon
24th – Folkestone, Speedway
25th - St. Leonards – The Piper
26th – Blackpool, Waterloo
27th – Hull, Wrecking Ball
March
1st – Liverpool, Cavern Club
12th - Derby, The Flowerpot
25th – Sheffield, Greystones
28th, Crumlin, The Patriot
Given only guitarist Steve "Boltz" Bolton features from the band’s classic, early 70s period, and only on one album (1972’s Made In England) there’s the almost obligatory argument of "band or brand," or whether the name even applies.
But the 21st century reality is there is no argument, because this is the classic rock reality for countless late 60s, 70s and 80s bands who have become legacy acts, keeping the spirit of the original (a)live and well and, in a few cases, honouring that legacy with new, sounds-like material.
Such is the case with Steve Bolton who, with the blessing of Vincent Crane’s widow, reformed the band in 2016 with another 70s era Rooster, singer Pete French (who would depart in 2023) and bassist Shug Millidge.
In 2017 Hammond & keys player/ vocalist Adrian Gautrey joined, followed by drummer Paul Everett in 2020.
More importantly, the Bolton-Gautrey-Millidge-Everett quartet have, with Circle The Sun, delivered a strong ten track album (five each from the songwriting pen of Bolton & Gautrey) that can be seen and heard as a love letter to the band’s original dark, psychedelic-prog sound.
Indeed, opener 'Fly Or Die,' which sports a great, earthy vocal from Adrian Gautrey and a tasty, eastern-tinged solo from Steve Bolton, has that perfect balance of gothic darkness and early 70s rock aesthetic (particularly on the up-tempo instrumental section). As such it would have sat comfortably on Atomic Rooster’s second, and archetypal album, Death Walks Behind You.
That classic Atomic Rooster sound is also heard on the title track, which comes equipped with a subtle, blues boogie underbelly and ritualistic lyric ("Voodoo me up when I choose to, your magic don’t hold me now").
The brooding and downtempo 'Never 2 Lose' makes its impact through a hypnotic rhythm and a repeated, eerie chant ("Time may pass but I will still remain"), which sits behind a suitably dark, spoken word section (bowing out on a sinister "it’s curtains for you!", followed by an unsettling chuckle).
'Walk With Me' and 'Rebel Devil' are great examples of dark gothic rock 'n' roll, Atomic Rooster style (some great Hammond soloing on both from Adrian Gautrey), before the unsettling eeriness returns with, first, 'No More' (a song early-era Alice Cooper Band would have loved to have called their own) and the ghostly, downtempo arrangement of 'Pillow.'
The mid-tempo, pseudo funky blues of the Hammond led 'Last Night' is a nice change-up, while 'First Impression' is a more rockin' take on the Atomic Rooster sound, complete with nifty six-string work from Steve Bolton and, again, some great splashes of Hammond. An album highlight.
Closing number 'Blow That Mind' is equally impressive, mixing and matching old-school Atomic Rooster with a driving, rock-blues rhythm.
Circle The Sun, which sports a solid production courtesy of Phil Wilson (who also provides additional percussion), has its more contemporary sheened moments, but its greatest gift is in celebrating the classic era of Atomic Rooster some half a century later, through brand new, genuinely impressive, material.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Atomic Rooster will be back out on the road in early 2026
February
19th – Aberdeen, Drummonds
20th – Paisley, The Bungalow
21st – Kinross, Backstage at the Green
22nd – Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre
23rd – London, The Half Moon
24th – Folkestone, Speedway
25th - St. Leonards – The Piper
26th – Blackpool, Waterloo
27th – Hull, Wrecking Ball
March
1st – Liverpool, Cavern Club
12th - Derby, The Flowerpot
25th – Sheffield, Greystones
28th, Crumlin, The Patriot