Written by: Pete Brown
Band:
Title:
Release Date:
Gallows Circus
Jumping at Shadows
27th March 2026
Gallows Circus were formed in 2016 in Rochester in Kent, UK. Their sound blends catchy riffs and vocal melodies with a robust rhyme. The band draws their inspiration from the classic rock style of icons such as Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. Their reputation has been built through hard work in live performances at venues such as Leo’s Red Lion and including such as Maid of Stone. Gallows Circus have released two EPs, the first being in 2017 and their second in 2020. On the 27th March they released their first album of 12 tracks entitled Jumping at Shadows. What can you expect from this album?
The album opens with Crazy Eyes. You are drawn into this song with a bluesy guitar riff, accompanied by a simple, but effective, drum pattern. Ian’s vocals add to the layered sound adding short-sentenced vocals until the song builds up to just short of a crescendo, whilst the drum beat is constantly leading you through the track, only becoming more complex towards the end. The guitar solo gives all guitarists fans an expected hit. For me, this track is a fantastic start to the album.
Following on the heels of Crazy Eyes is Hangman Saloon. With this track the intro has more of the drum dragging you into the song and the guitar riff is second placed. The drum is of equal tone to the vocals that Ian produces. It seems to signify the pulsating sound that you may well find in a saloon of this kind. This allows the vocals almost to be as thoughts of the character involved in the song, those inhabiting the saloon of the hangman. This is the most definitely the Blues side of a track, thoughtful and provoking. This song is almost a dream or a vivid thought.
The third track is a song called Russian Roulette. The cymbals bring you nodding into this track. If hell has a casino, then this song would be blaring out as its soundtrack. More fast-paced instruments than the previous tracks. The vocals tell of the consequences in this case of betting in hell, with a loaded deck and a noose around your neck. There is a sense of urgency in this song as the game becomes more dangerous. Is this a warning? A dream? Or a premonition?
After the fast pace of Russian Roulette, we have Easy Prey. The vocals start off slower in this track and seemed to remain slower throughout, very much like the obligatory slow track on an album. This track is very easy listening, and the lyrics seem to be accompanied by the drums in the verses, and joined by the guitar in the chorus. As with several of their songs, Easy Prey seems to have a tone of misplaced love for those who can easily wound you as much as love you.
The title track is up next. Jumping at Shadows starts with a powerful rock hook and quietens down for the vocals. Again, the guitar and drums pull you into this track with a heavy riff and when the vocals start it slows the sound down. The guitars and vocals take the lead here throughout the verse and joined by the drums in the chorus. The overall theme here seems to be the battle to be heard during an argument, where words are used to be the only things that hurt. Jumping at Shadows seems to be about how easy it is to annoy or snap at each other. The instrument break with the guitars and drums acts as a moment of peace in conflict.
The song which follows is Sleep When You’re Dead. We have all had a morning after experience which this song seems to be about. The hangover experience, what might have happened? What can you remember? This track has a livelier beat to it from the guitars drums and even the lyrics they seem to be livelier while keeping that Blues style of this band. The same pattern of all tracks is seen here – a lively hook to draw you in and clear crystal vocals and instrumentals. The track is another one on this album that I think is very good.
… If hell has a casino, then this song would be blaring out as its soundtrack…
Hand to the Fire has a very slow track to start, only the guitars bring us in slowly, however, the vocals join in quickly. The chorus picks up a bit but brings the whole thing back down to the slower pace afterwards. This song seems to take the idea of being burnt by an experience, in this case love, and almost going out of your way to be burnt yet again almost as if the pain is needed. This is one of those songs that make you think of the past, in a strange sort of way.
Barricade continues the Blues onslaught from Gallows Circus, and you are drawn into this song with guitar and drums. The guitar seems stripped back initially before being joined by the main drums. Barricade is a song which seems to focus on being alone or isolated for a reason and the idea of coming out; rejoining the chaos of the world, before isolation takes over completely.
Treading Water, the next song, seems to say it all. The idea of being socially awkward and not being able to socialise after a broken relationship. This is a lively track with an outstanding guitar riffed guiding you through the song itself towards the end. There is a high note guitar solo in this song which drops back to the rhythm that is standard throughout. This song closes out with another guitar solo after the vocals have dropped away.
Continuing this album is the song We Need an Anchor. As with most of the tracks on this album this song is hooked with a good rock style riff and the guitars, and the drums lead you into the song. The vocals join in and there’s no loss in tempo as this song continues. This track seems to tell us that we need to be anchored down the truth and slow down the craziness around us. This song tries to bring a little sense to everything that we probably go through. Maybe it’s time for us to stop and look at ourselves and the crazy life that we actually lead. Do we need an anchor?
Locking Horns is the penultimate track. Here the guitar pulls you in and is joined quickly by the vocals. There is a calmer start to this song. Drums add the next layer as the song progresses. The theme behind this track is about confrontation in a relationship. The line regarding ‘roses changing to a bouquet of thorns’ shows how love can go from being beautiful to being harsh twisted painful. It seems that the relationship here has become one of one upmanship and arguments, however it also tells us that “we gotta to stop before something breaks”.
Pulling the Strings rounds out this album. A slow guitar and drums to start the track very much like a slow hard day’s work, when trudging through every minute just to try and get to the end and a time to relax. Is it about being downtrodden whilst others benefit from our hard work? Maybe! This track seems to me to be a good way to round out what is a good album.
Overall this album is well put together, and the tracks show what Gallows Circus are all about, and there is a Blues and rock side to their music. For me personally this album is very easy listening you don’t need to interpret too much to enjoy the music that’s been created for you. Sometimes that’s what music is about, just enjoying the music and you can do that with Jumping at Shadows. I appreciate the hard work and effort that goes into creating an album of 12 tracks, it’s not easy. I did enjoy listening to it and would go and support the band at a festival, however I think you need to make up your own mind. Give it a listen and see what you think!
Gallows Circus are:
Ian Day -Vocals and Harmonica
Oscar Rees – Guitar
Sam Scott – Bass
Jamie Briggs – Drums
Track Listing
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Crazy Eyes
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Hangman’s Saloon
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Russian Roulette
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Easy Prey
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Jumping at Shadows
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Sleep When You’re Dead
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Hand to the Fire
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Barricade
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Treading Water
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We Need an Anchor
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Locking Horns
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Pulling the Strings