Circle II Circle

Lore & Background

Circle II Circle was founded in 2001 by Zachary Stevens, who had been the lead singer of Savatage from 1992 until August 2000, leaving that band for family reasons. During the winter of 2001, Stevens began his comeback with co-founder Dan Campbell, co-writing material with former Savatage members Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery, which became the songs for the debut album Watching in Silence (2003). The band's second album, The Middle of Nowhere (2005), featured Stevens alongside members Paul Michael Stewart, Andy Lee, Tom Drennan, and Evan Christopher.

The third release, Burden of Truth (2006), was a concept album based around the life of Jesus Christ. After signing with Intromental Management, the band released Delusions of Grandeur in 2008. Artwork for the band's logo and first three album covers was designed by Dan Campbell and rendered by Thomas Ewerhard; additional artwork for the concept album Consequence of Power (2010) was created by Claudio Bergamin. Subsequent studio albums include Seasons Will Fall (2013) and Nothing More (2020), and a live album, Live at Wacken 2012, was released in 2014.

Reader's Guide

Circle II Circle holds significance as a continuation of the melodic, progressive heavy metal style associated with Savatage, led by one of that band's most recognized vocalists, Zachary Stevens. The band's discography spans over a decade, with seven studio albums that explore varied themes, including a concept album about the descendants of Jesus. Their music blends traditional heavy metal, power metal, and progressive metal, appealing to fans of the genre. The band has experienced numerous lineup changes, with Stevens as the sole constant member, and has maintained a presence through releases on labels like earMusic. Their legacy is tied to the broader Savatage family, with connections to Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Jon Oliva's Pain, and they remain active as of their last studio album in 2015.

Did You Know?

• Circle II Circle was formed in 2001 by Zachary Stevens and Dan Campbell.
• The band's third album, Burden of Truth, is a concept album based on the life of Jesus.
• Former drummer Adam Sagan died from cancer on December 7, 2016, at age 35.

From Savatage's Frontman to a New Identity

Zachary Stevens spent eight years, from 1992 through August 2000, as the lead vocalist of Savatage, lending his voice to five studio albums before departing the group for family-related reasons. That departure did not signal the end of his creative output; rather, it set the stage for something entirely new. In the winter of 2001, in Tampa, Florida, Stevens reunited with longtime friend and band manager Dan Campbell to launch a fresh project. The early songwriting sessions were notably collaborative: Stevens co-wrote material alongside former Savatage frontman Jon Oliva and guitarist Chris Caffery, and those compositions would ultimately form the backbone of Circle II Circle's debut album, Watching in Silence. The resulting band carved out a sonic identity spanning traditional heavy metal, power metal, and progressive metal, distinguishing itself from its predecessors while carrying forward the melodic intensity that had defined Stevens' earlier career.

A Catalogue of Evolution

From the 2003 debut Watching in Silence through the 2015 release Reign of Darkness, Circle II Circle delivered seven studio albums that charted a clear trajectory of artistic growth. The third entry, Burden of Truth, released on June 6, 2006, stood apart as a concept album exploring the lineage of Jesus' descendants, signaling the band's willingness to tackle narrative-driven material. After that record, Stevens and the group signed with Intromental Management, a partnership that carried them through Delusions of Grandeur in 2008 and Consequence of Power in 2010. Visual identity was equally deliberate: Dan Campbell designed the band's logo and the artwork for the first three covers, with rendering by artist Thomas Ewerhard, while Claudio Bergamin contributed additional imagery for Consequence of Power. Beyond studio work, the band released three EPs, a 2012 compilation titled Full Circle: The Best of Circle II Circle, and a 2014 live recording captured at Wacken Open Air, underscoring their growing presence on the European festival circuit.

A Revolving Lineup and Tragic Losses

Circle II Circle's history is marked by significant personnel turnover. The original 2001 lineup, featuring guitarist Matt LaPorte, keyboardist John Zahner, bassist Kevin Rothney, and drummer Christopher Kinder, was largely replaced by 2003, when Paul Michael Stewart, Andy Lee, Tom Drennan, and Evan Christopher stepped in. Over the following decade the roster continued to shift: Tom McDyne, Oliver Palotai, Johnny Osborn, Rollie Feldman, Adam Sagan, and Marc Pattison all passed through the band at various points. Bill Hudson's tenure is particularly fragmented, with stints in 2008–2009, 2012–2013, and again from 2015 onward. The toll of these changes was compounded by tragedy. Matt LaPorte died in 2011. Drummer Adam Sagan, who served from 2011 to 2013, passed away from cancer on December 7, 2016, at just 35 years old. Marc Pattison, the lead guitarist from 2014 to 2015, also died in 2020. Three members lost to death within nine years is a sobering testament to the human cost behind the music.

Threads in a Wider Metal Tapestry

Circle II Circle does not exist in isolation; it is a node in a dense web of interconnected metal projects. Zachary Stevens' vocal work extends well beyond the band's own catalogue: he sang lead on four Savatage studio albums, toured as a vocalist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and fronts the project Machines of Grace. The collaborative DNA of the band's early days, with Stevens writing alongside Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery, echoes in the fact that Jon Oliva's Pain was later formed by former Circle II Circle members, blurring the boundaries between the two acts. Dan Campbell, who co-founded the band and served as its manager, also shaped its visual identity through logo and cover design. The Tampa, Florida roots ground the project in a specific regional scene, yet the band's 2012 Wacken performance and subsequent live album demonstrate how that local origin translated into a recognized presence on the international heavy metal stage.