Circle II Circle's last album 2006's ‘Burden Of Truth' was utterly stunning and one of the best progressive metal albums of the year. This, their fourth album, is not quite as instantly powerful or hard hitting but it still has many fine moments to rave about.

Zak Stevens is one of the genre's strongest singers and through the album he sings his heart and soul out displaying similar vocal strength as somebody like Chris Cornell. The guitars of Andy Lee and Evan Christopher carry the progressive chords of classic Savatage with the brutality of thrash metal bands like Metallica. And bassist Paul Michael Stewart and drummer Robert T. Drennan are a devastatingly tight rhythm section. Some of the albums better songs include the pounding ‘Seclusion' and the sombre ‘Every Last Thing' which has some haunting keys and stunning guitar chords.

There is a special deluxe version of this album with bonus tracks and a special edition Japanese release as well. But the original standard version is a strong enough purchase. This album comes recommended to prog metal fans.

****

Review by Neil Daniels