"Your Reality" may change in a POSITIVE way - 90%
In the first place, I must say that I am not a very big fan of Dan's Brown commercial opera, it's cheesy, commercial, trendy and have especially female "customers". But that's not the point. Circle II Circle have managed to put a magnificent music on such a crappy concept, and that is really something. I have listened the first two releases of this band, and I did that just because it was about Zachary Stevens, the Savatage's former vocalist, which is in my opinion one of the strongest and distinguable voices in the heavy-prog metal. Well, those albums made me a good impression, but not one of the best and I was nearly "struck" a few days ago, hearing the first riffs form "Burden Of Truth". The production is flawless, the sound is as clearer as it can be, and the vocals are the highlight, even though the all composition, both instrumental and vocal is stunning. Compared with some other very high rated vocalists in metal music, for example Bruce Dickinson, King Diamond or Geoff Tate, Zakk seems to be forever young, and he sounds fresher than ever, he is really amazing! I love this man because he gave me one of the biggest positive surprises with this release. When I think about the old woman's lamentations of poor old (old in spirit, too) canadian James La Brie, this Zachary guy seems a God, he have something that James never had and he will never have: FEELING, ladies and gentleman. It's all about passion and feeling, a real and strong metal vocalist must transmit these to the listener through his music.
Speaking about the instrumental and compositional stuff, we have here some of the catchiest arrangements that can be made in this semiprog genre. These guys really know what they're doing, at a very profesional level. We have piano sounds here, in a very discrete and effectual way, we have catchy riffs, very well composed guitar solos, and if this guys will keep up this way, it's obvious that they have the potential to earn greater and greater recognition of their efforts.
It's not a shame to say that "Burden Of Truth" sounds better in a clear way than ALL of the Savatage releases from 1992's "Edge of Thorns" till now, I am just exposing my personal perception. Some would say that we have a comercial release, but what the hell! they are humans too, and they must live, and I thing earning a living making such "commercial" stuff it's a very honorable way to do that.
Highlights of the album are "Who Am I To Be?", "A Matter Of Time" and "Heal You", but in fact all are just highlights, but I have run out of ink and paper ... The only reason this CD will not have a higher rank is because of the lyrics concept, but still, I think it's one of the best releases from this year, we're talking about music here in the first place, so .... to Zakk and the guys: You did it, men! You did it real good!
I firmly declare, like one of the Marin Preda's characters form "Morometii, Vol. Two" named "Bila", would say: "I am telling you, with tears in my eyes ...", I say this to you, metal heads, if you want to listen something that will shook your inner world, buy this CD! You won't regret it!
- Gunnodayak, October 21st, 2006
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