When vocalist Zak Stevens left Savatage (from which Trans-Siberian Orchestra descended), he formed Circle II Circle and carried on the sound he forged with Savatage on such epic mid-’90s progressive-metal albums as Edge of Thorns and The Wake of Magellan. Heavy riffs with ominous overtones, heady topics and one of the most lethal voices in contemporary metal identified Circle II Circle as a contender from the start.
Seven albums in, Circle II Circle has gone through countless lineup changes, but the band’s muscular sound hasn’t wavered. Reign of Darkness opens with “Over-Underture,” a majestic instrumental that echoes Dream Theater in both intensity and melody and then delves into songs about overcoming despair and evil. Stevens sounds his best on dramatic mid-paced rockers with big hooks, including “Untold Dreams,” “One More Day” and “Solitary Rain.” Some lyrics lean toward the violent (“Do your killing on the run/No mercy for anyone”), but listeners will find hope beneath the surface.
