With “The Circle,” Mad Morning sound like a band fully aware of the moment they’re in—and unwilling to soften the message. Following the impact of their debut single “Painkiller,” the Essex-based trio return sharper, louder, and more focused, delivering a track that feels both confrontational and strangely cathartic. Out on 31st October via Saviour Music, “The Circle” doesn’t just build on their early momentum; it deepens it.
What immediately strikes me about “The Circle” is its sense of urgency. The track burns with a restless energy that mirrors its central theme: the loops we trap ourselves in while chasing money, validation, and control. Mad Morning frame this idea with a sardonic edge rather than moralising, letting the frustration bleed through the riffs and rhythms instead. Lines like “Take the money, I’ll keep my pride / Running, running, running, the circle” land with defiant clarity, balancing self-awareness with rebellion.
Sonically, the band sit comfortably between post-grunge grit and high-voltage indie hard rock. I hear the brooding weight of Alice in Chains, flashes of Velvet Revolver’s swagger, and the modern punch of Royal Blood, all filtered through Mad Morning’s own stripped-back intensity as a three-piece. Razor-sharp guitars drive the song forward, thunderous drums give it muscle, and the hooks are immediate without feeling manufactured. It’s sleek, loud, and unapologetic.
Part of what makes this track work so well is how lived-in it feels. Mad Morning aren’t posturing as outsiders looking in; they sound like participants who know exactly how seductive and destructive ambition can be. That authenticity carries over from their live reputation. After sold-out headline shows at The Black Heart in Camden and The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington—before even releasing a single—the band have already proven their connection with an audience hungry for something raw and real.
Frontman Rob Jarvis is central to that pull. Formerly of The Mercury Sons and Great Man Theory, Jarvis brings years of experience shaped by time spent honing his craft in the US. His vocal delivery on “The Circle” feels grounded yet cinematic, cutting through the mix with conviction rather than excess. Paired with powerhouse German drummer Kevin Hein, whose seismic playing locks in perfectly with Jarvis’s volatile energy, the chemistry feels inevitable rather than forced.
For me, “The Circle” confirms Mad Morning as more than just another promising new rock act. They’ve grown leaner and louder, sharpening their sound without losing its emotional core. Built for big stages yet thriving on raw intensity, this is a band turning frustration and restless ambition into something genuinely compelling—and they sound like they’re only just getting started.
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