New Circle II Circle...

General Zod

Ruler of Australia
May 1, 2001
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While I love Zach's voice, I can't say I've been a big fan of this band. The debut opened strong than headed for Power Ballad Land and bored me to tears. I found their second CD even less interesting. However, the new one (at first listen) is superb. I can't wait to get my hands on this platter. I'm now pretty psched to for their live set at the pre-party.:kickass:

Zod
 
General Zod said:
While I love Zach's voice, I can't say I've been a big fan of this band. The debut opened strong than headed for Power Ballad Land and bored me to tears. I found their second CD even less interesting. However, the new one (at first listen) is superb. I can't wait to get my hands on this platter. I'm now pretty psched to for their live set at the pre-party.:kickass:

Zod


Awesome. I feel pretty much the same way (though I probably like the debut a bit more than you.) The second, while not bad by any means, is definitely lacking in the songwriting dept. Hopefully this new one will be as good as you say.

I consider Zach Stevens to be one of the best Melodic Metal vocalists ever, so I am drooling!
 
I completely disagree. I think the second album had much stronger and catchier songs, and it strays away from the Savatage mold more... however, I think the first album flowed better as an album. Overall, I'll take the second one over the first.
 
General Zod said:
While I love Zach's voice, I can't say I've been a big fan of this band. The debut opened strong than headed for Power Ballad Land and bored me to tears. I found their second CD even less interesting. However, the new one (at first listen) is superb. I can't wait to get my hands on this platter. I'm now pretty psched to for their live set at the pre-party.:kickass:

Zod

Cool. I agree with you completely on the first two. I look forward to hearing the new one.
 
Hmmmm....Zod, I don't know how to take that from you. You're a tough critic to impress, so I'm looking forward to hearing it. I personally like the first two, but I like the Savaesque, power ballad moves that Zak does.

What has impressed you so much about this one?
 
edgeofthorns said:
What has impressed you so much about this one?
The songs. I just thought they were much stronger, better written. It seems that they've hit their stride as a band and figured out where they want to be. Additionally, this CD feels edgier as a whole, than any of their previous efforts.

Zod
 
If Zod didnt like the first two much (I thought they were okay to pretty decent) but likes the new one - especially on a first listen - I am really looking forward to the release of this CD and the set at the Pre-party. Zod does seem to be a preetty tough critic so the fact that he feels the songwriting is better for this one is promising.
I hope they will have some promo copies or something available for people to purchase - seeing as it keeps getting pushed back to after PP now :)

jeff
who has not officially started his progpower countdown (23 days to Wednesday woo hoo) because the Countdown to Cancun is down to 4 days - after I get back from that and hit a quick roadtrip Labor Day weekene (get in from Mexico at midnite friday - road trip sat morning at 10 a.m.). THEN I will start counting down to Progpower (still 23 days, WTF!!!)
 
General Zod said:
The songs. I just thought they were much stronger, better written. It seems that they've hit their stride as a band and figured out where they want to be. Additionally, this CD feels edgier as a whole, than any of their previous efforts.

Zod

Cool, well I'm looking forward to checking out CIIC's latest. :kickass:
 
I thought the 1st CIIC was awesome but was really disappointed by the follow-up. I just finished playing the new one for the time and thought it was excellent, quite heavy. Time will tell, but right now I feel it's way better than THe Middle Of Nowhere.
 
Circle II Circle were an entirely different band with their debut. It sounded like a followup to Wake of Magellan. And didn't Oliva write all the songs? The second one, I listened to maybe twice...and now it's collecting dust. A big part of why the second one sucked is that they no longer sound like Savatage, but some generic metal band with a great singer. I heard the clips from the third CIIC on the band's website and it sounds like neither the first nor the second album. It sounds like a melodic metal album that isn't generic, unlike the second release.

The Michael
 
Probably from someone on this board - coz there was a lot of PP type of bands on their list. Anyway - got a couple of full tunes and some that are clipped (I hate that - cruising to work this morning - just getting into a song and then, blip, next song starts, argh).

So far what I ahve heard is pretty impressive. I like Zak's voice no matter what the stuff behind him is doing, but Zod nailed it - the songwriting (again from limited exposure) does kinda jump from Middle of Nowhere (which I like several tracks on). The guitars really seem to be good on this one.

They BETTER have it availble for sale at ProgPower - they'll be kicking themselves if they dont.

Jeff
 
Sorry guys, but unless the official release is better than the promo, CIIC's 3rd effort suffers from the same issue that plagued the first two - a lack of dynamics. The songwriting sounds pretty monotonous to me, which is a real shame because Zakk is a monster vocalist.

On the other hand, the JOP promo has me waiting for the "order" button.
 
General Zod said:
I hope I'm wrong, but from what I understand, it will not be for sale. Release date is mid-October.

I know they pushed back the offical release til after PP - but this is a perfect opportunity for them to sell quite a few copies in a short period of time - so the label needs to get some copies into the hands of the band itself (if not the vendors) - out of a crowd of 1200 (and taht is the main fest, not even the pre-party) they certainly wouldnt need more than say 500 - as the guy on star trek says - make it so :)
While people who would buy it at PP will probably buy it anyway - i still think they'd be better served (as would fans who wanted to get them signed etc) by having some copies - promo or not - available for people to buy.

here's hoping,
jeff
 
I also hope that Zak and his label will do whatever they can to bring some "Burden of Truth" CDs to sell at the Pre-Party... especially with both the hardcore CIIC fans and a receptive audience there.

With that being said though, as was said above, a large percentage of the people attending the pre-party and main event will probably buy this when it comes out anyway, so if they are worried about their soundscan numbers (and I'm sure they are) they will probably hold the CD's for the Oct. 13 street date.

I predict that they will *ONLY* have some of the 4-song "Revelation" EP's for sale at the show for a few reasons:

1) It will allow them to provide an already-released product available that people can buy and the "teaser" format of an EP would further build momentum/excitement for the full length coming in October
2) It will also help them sell more of this EP format which is usually a hard sell when it hits the shelves a short time in advance of a full length... I think most people would rather wait for a full length album vs. what amounts to paying for the same 4 songs twice.
3) And finally, after they put on what I expect to be a great show at the pre-party, they know that the fans will flood to vendors to buy whatever merchandise they can. If they can sell 500 EPs *and* still sell 500 CDs in October, that means more money for the label/Zak.