CIRCLE II CIRCLE – Reign Of Darkness (2015)
Fronted by Savatage vocalist Zak Stevens, CIRCLE II CIRCLE are about to release their new album “Reign Of Darkness” tomorrow, October 16.
This is Zak’s seventh album with Circle II Circle, so at this point he feels like true part of the band since joined them in in 2003.
Zak Stevens left Savatage and had a time-out from music. But since the metal flame was still burning, he came back and released Circle II Circle’s debut that also included song done in a cooperation with Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery. The Savatage connection was still alive.
This introduction is for listeners new to Circle II Circle; yes there’s some Savatage melodic metal on “Reign Of Darkness”, but this is a more direct band with some power / progressive metal twists, yet basically ‘song format’ straight to the point.
Sonic-wise, Circle II Circle features Steven’s great voice at the forefront. The riffs and bottom end remain thick enough to please metal fans, while melody, harmony, and groove permeate most every song giving the whole album accessibility to that classic melodic metal sound.
Actually, I found the hooks in the rock groove and vocal harmonies great present and notable especially, for the former, within ‘Untold Dreams’, ‘Ghost Of The Devil’ and ‘Somewhere’.
That last song is representative of Circle II Circle’s ability to deliver the perfect storm of heaviness, catchy harmony in the refrain, and then power it with rock groove. And guitar, don’t forget the solos as the are abundant across this album.
Of additional interest throughout the album is the ambitious use of piano lines in song composition. The piano essentially leads the opening ‘Over-Underture’ but also it adds impetus, at the start, to many other songs including ‘Deep Within’, ‘Somewhere’, ‘Victim of the Night’ and the exellent closing number ‘Solitary Rain’. Great job by Henning Wanner (White Lion, Jaded Heart) who also provides some subtle synths throughout.
At the beginning of this review, I mentioned a short story about Zak Stevens and Savatage. There was a recent Savatage reunion concert at this year’s Wacken Festival, and Zak was part of it of course.
Well, these words were put with the intention to significant that “Reign Of Darkness” should be the most Savatage-like Circle II Circle release to date.
But as said, Circle II Circle is all about short songs, straight riffage and instant hooks. And “Reign of Darkness” deliver those in spades.
Strongly Recommended.
01. Over-Underture
02. Victim Of The Night
03. Untold Dreams
04. It’s All Over
05. One More Day
06. Ghost Of The Devil
07. Somewhere
08. Deep Within
09. Taken Away
10. Sinister Love
11. Solitary Rain
Zak Stevens (Savatage) – Vocals
Bill Hudson (Power Quest) – Guitars
Christian Wentz – Guitars
Mitch Stewart – Bass
Henning Wanner (White Lion, Jaded Heart) – Keyboards
Marcelo Moreira (Almah) – Drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/Reign-Darkness-Circle-II/dp/B013SN6VZS
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