OCTOBER THORNS - Circle Game: Complete Anthology

LABEL: Divebomb Records (2022) OCTOBER THORNS formed in Brooklyn, NY in 1999. Through a series of auditions, the band settled into a lineup of drummer Joe "Jofu" Cardillo, guitarists Joe Chawki and Dave Pando, Norbert Sator on keyboards, Dave Z on bass, and vocalist Paul LaPlaca. Pando—also head of Catalyst Promotions—was immediately relentless in setting up gigs for the group, including festival appearances such as Milwaukee Metalfest, Powermad, and The Big Bang. A performance at the 1999 Savatage Convention (a.k.a. Savacon '99) even led to Dave Z being asked to join the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. OCTOBER THORNS eventually became a fixture at L'Amour—the self-proclaimed "Rock Capital of Brooklyn"—opening for acts such as Symphony X, In Flames, and God Forbid. By the time the band had completed a six-song demo, they were being covered by international magazines such as Aardschok, Heavy, Oder Was!?, and Transcending the Mundane; while garnering interest from labels like Century Media an