Circle II Circle

Circle II Circle was founded in 2002 by Zachary Stevens, the former lead vocalist of Savatage, during a pivotal moment in the American power metal landscape. The band's identity is inextricably linked to the 'Savatage sound,' characterized by theatrical piano interludes, complex vocal counterpoint, and a blend of progressive structures with traditional heavy metal muscle.

Their debut, 'Watching in Silence,' featured significant songwriting contributions from Jon Oliva, cementing their position as the spiritual successor to the 'Edge of Thorns' era of metal. Over their career, the band evolved from a Savatage-adjacent project into a distinct entity, particularly with the 2006 concept album 'Burden of Truth.' Critically, they are praised for maintaining high production standards and for Stevens' consistent vocal performance, which remains a benchmark for clean, melodic metal singing. They occupy a specific niche in the Tampa metal scene, bridging the gap between European-style power metal and American progressive metal.