Melodic Metal
AFM
2005
1. In This Life
2. All That Remains
3. Open Season
4. Holding On
5. Cynical Ride
6. Hollow
7. Psycho Motor
8. Faces In The Dark
9. The Middle Of Nowhere
10. Lost
While I'm not the biggest fan of Stevens era Savatage, I must say I thought the debut of Circle II Circle was pretty decent. Partly because it wasn't as 'Rock Opera/Broadway' and mostly because it wasn't ruining a perfectly good traditional power band. Also helps that Stevens isn't trying to fit into the heavier Savatage vein on any tracks here.
What we have on this new Circle II Circle album is a pretty good mix of melody and heaviness. Not as bogged down in the aforementioned overblown theatrics, this release comes off a good deal more powerful and a lot more metal. Also this music seems to fit Stevens more comfortably as he has a rich and melodic voice that has a lot of soul and it gives him more room to be his own vocalist. I like the fact that this release manages to be very melodic, but doesn't forget the heavier riffs. In a way it reminds me a bit of what Masterplan is doing now, though not up to that level. Still, this is a pretty enjoyable listen and would probably appeal to fans of that band and should have enough to keep Stevens era Savatage fans happy. There's even a couple slower tracks toward the end (which I stop the CD before) that do have the softer touch of some of his Savatage work and a bit of the piano.
Highlights: All That Remains, Open Season
Rating - 3.0/5
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