CircAxe
"The original heavy metal- circus-opera"- AU Review, 2020, DYSTOPIA Adelaide Fringe
CircAxe is a fresh and unique take on performing arts and live entertainment, combining live guitar and original music with circus and physical theatre.
Following Scott and Chantelle Reed’s successful 2019
Adelaide Fringe season performing their award winning show under a different brand, CircAxe brought forth the next chapter for this unique brand of performing artistry featuring prominently in multiple Adelaide Fringe Festivals, The Adelaide Guitar Festival and Melbourne's Eternity since.
Scott Reed is an Adelaide based guitar virtuoso and progressive musical composer, who's produced 3 albums under the name "Scott Reed's String Theory" featuring legendary metal keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Black Label Society, Yngwie Malmsteen, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Planet X, Black Country Communion, Sons of Apollo) on all 3 albums.
Chantelle Reed is an award winning Adelaide based circus trainer and performer specialising in lyra and aerial
disciplines. Chantelle directs the circus elements of CircAxe which boasts multiple award winning
performers across a variety of aerial, floor, flow and fire disciplines.
Available to tailor Corporate Performances to your needs, get in touch today to discuss your requirements & gain a quote.
https://glamadelaide.com.au/fringe-review-the-black-masquerade/ March 2023
Scott Reed's String Theory
The Music behind the Circus
Scott Reed’s String Theory is the progressive metal project of CircAxe guitarist, composer, producer and South Coast Circus co-owner Scott Reed.
Blending heavy riffs, technical lead guitar, orchestral arrangements and progressive songwriting, the project has attracted international attention and features legendary keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) across multiple releases.
The music has received radio airplay in Australia, Europe and South America, and has been reviewed by progressive rock and metal publications in the United States, Norway, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and beyond.
International reviewers have described the project as a “guitar driven cataclysm”, a “modern Metal version of Deep Purple”, and praised Reed’s ability to “shred with the best of them” while balancing technical intensity with strong melodic songwriting.
Entirely self-produced, Scott Reed’s String Theory combines the influence of classic guitar heroes such as Yngwie Malmsteen and Zakk Wylde with modern progressive metal, creating instrumental music that ranges from brutally heavy and complex to atmospheric and cinematic.
For fans of progressive metal, instrumental rock and virtuosic guitar playing, Scott Reed’s String Theory delivers a powerful blend of technical skill, musical passion and uncompromising artistic vision.
Quotes from the Media
“S.R.S.T’s (Scott Reed’s String Theory) new and second album is entitled Regenesis and this is heavy and fast prog metal. Derek Sherinian from Dream Theater, Planet X and Sons Of Apollo plays on the album together with maestro Scott Reed, and they offer many complex progressive metal rhythms. The album is brimming with much delicious and heavy guitar, and many keyboards’ and guitar solos.”
Permafrost 🇳🇴
“The song itself was written, performed, recorded and produced by Scott Reed and features Prog Rock and Metal legend Derek Sherinian on the Hammond B3 Organ.
This is an instrumental orchestral, Prog Metal masterpiece highlighted by highly technical lead guitar and organ interplay. Think of a modern Metal version of Deep Purple.”
Prog Rock Journal 🇮🇹
“Scott can shred with the best of them, lots of agile, nimble, soaring lead guitar work, as well as crunchy, gutsy riffs.”
Progressive Rock Fanatics 🇺🇸
“I doubt any serious progressive musician or progressive rock fanatic is not in awe of Derek Sherinian- and he’s much sought after and does appear on many albums of various progressive rock acts.
His lines and Scott’s guitar lines swoop, soar, sing, and shred- sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which.”
Progressive Rock Fanatics 🇺🇸
“There are a lot of pounding riffs on offer and if you are the sort of person who thinks Yngwie Malmsteen got better after he stopped writing songs then you’re probably going to like this.”
The Rocker 🇬🇧
“Regenesis is not for the faint of heart. Scott Reed brings us heavy-metal, muscular guitar music and the first part of the album the muscles are on steroids. Together with Derek Sherinian he produces a lot of fast heavy solos with, at times, a bombardment of notes.
On the second part of the album there is more room for melodies and the songs are more structured. It is like he first wants to show how well he can play and then show he can also play music. Nothing wrong with that, at times I like an instrumental challenge and certainly some heavy technical complex parts.”
DPRP 🇳🇱
“Well, if progressive (specifically, progressive metal) is what you're looking for, I guarantee you will like Scott Reed's String Theory.”
DPRP 🇳🇱
“Reed himself plays all instruments other than keyboards, and also produces the album. This is a progressive-metal album heavy on the metal, but it's also pleasingly melodic (especially for an instrumental album). Reed lists among his influences Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore, but a spin of this album would make those influences obvious in any case.”
DPRP 🇳🇱
“What we have here is a fiery, committed instrumental album. In every song, Reed comes out blazing, and Sherinian matches the fire when he's featured.”
DPRP 🇳🇱
“The overall sound takes me way, way back to when I heard my first Yngwie Malmsteen album (1984's Rising Force is still a favourite). I'm not saying that Reed “sounds like” Malmsteen or that this album “sounds like” Rising Force. I'm only saying that with a bit of time, I hope and expect that Reed will distinguish himself even more clearly from that early master of classical/metal guitar. He has the chops to do so and as a single listening will demonstrate, the passion as well.”
DPRP 🇳🇱
“A listening recommended for lovers of the virtuous and shred sounds of Progressive Metal, where two artists enhance their technique with high-level plots and duets. Entirely instrumental, it is a well composed and perfectly executed album, continuing and evolving the musical discourse undertaken in the previous album. These two artists are confirmed to be among the best exponents of the harshest sounds of modern Prog.”
Prog Rock Journal 🇮🇹