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Circle II Circle, the band created by former Savatage singer Zachary Stevens, have now finished their 2nd album "All That Remains". Working on the new material he has co-operated with none other than Mr. Savatage himself, Jon Oliva, and this has resulted in a very strong Savatage vibe in some of the songs on this album and also in a few choruses. While I have not been too impressed with Jon Oliva's Pain, this album is by far the best material any former or current Savatage member has produced outside of the best-selling hard rock band. If you are a big fan of the band and want to satisfy your urge for good music while awaiting a possible new album then I suggest you go with Circle II Circle. As far as I can remember I did not like their debut album as much but this time Zak is fronting one of the best traditional hard rock / heavy metal acts in Europe anno 2005.
Zak did not get to participate on the most well-known Savatage albums but he is nonetheless a very talented singer. At his best, as in the title track of this album, he comes off as a more conventional version of Geoff Tate. His voice is strong and powerful but it has no unique features. Still, he is a gifted singer and knows how to use his voice. "All That Remains" should have radio hit potential if it is given a fair chance. There is a nice balance between solos and regular riffs, not giving into extremes in neither direction. Except for the obvious killer title track there are a couple of other songs that stand out from the rest of the material namely "Open Season" and "Hollow" which are both great tracks. Circle II Circle has released a winner.
| Tracklist |
| 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 |
: 49.55
| Buy other Circle II Circle albums |
