Circus of Fools was founded by vocalist Tim Strouken and drummer Manuel Hassler summer 2012. Only a few months later, guitar player Dominik Bolter joined and in this line up, they recorded the first demo ”From a Distant Land“ which was well received by scene-intern media like Sonic Seducer, Zillo or Orkus. They have been playing shows since may 2013 before summer 2013 second guitar player Julian Langer and bass player Yannick Ninkov joined. Playing concerts in a pattern of every two à four weeks, especially in the Stuttgart area, their shows where praised.
Winter 2013/14 Circus of Fools recorded the two-track EP ”Ikarus///Obsidian Black“ at the derSoundmann Studios in Stuttgart with Marc Martin (e.g. End of Green). It was released in february 2014 with a re-release of the From a Distant Land-Demo.
April 2014 drummer Manuel left the band in favor of other carrier obligations, but in Nico Staller the band found a perfect replacement immediately. At the same time Coen Strouken (re)joined as violist and the band played it’s first shows with live members Mara Nüllen (performance art) and Johannes Alsheimer (juggling). This line-up played many, many shows (e.g. Rock Days as support for End of Green, as support for Schwarzer Engel etc.) and won the band contest for Baden in Blut Festival with great Names like Sepultura, Solstafir, Melechesh and Rotting Christ.
The debut-album ”Raise the Curtain” is a wild gallop through overwhelming soundscapes, political, social, critical and psychological lyric themes and hint of desire. Produced by singer Tim Strouken and mixed and mastered by Vagelis Maranis at the Maranis Studios (e.g. Agrypnie, Traitor, Nocte Obducte, Acromonia and many more.)