Savage Circus was formed by drummer Thomas Stauch, following his departure from the long-running power metal band Blind Guardian. He hooked with an old friend, Iron Savior guitarist Piet Sielck, and that pair eventually sought out two guys from yet another power metal band Persuader to complete the lineup. Given this pedigree, neither the musical direction nor the quality of songs on their Dreamland Manor should come as a surprise to anyone -- this is prime Germanic power metal through and through, and as with many such bands (even the cream of the crop), the focus is not on pushing the boundaries of metal but simply delivering quality songs, chock full of anthemic choruses, speedy riffs, and double-bass drumming galore. Savage Circus won't convert those not already into power metal, but this style of metal has been riding high for quite some time and fans into any of the these guys' other/former bands, or power metal in general, will lap this stuff up.

Curiously, the new lineup unveiled in September 2007 doesn't feature Stauch at all, as he left the band in 2006 for personal reasons and was released from the band permanently by the remaining members.