Artist: CIRCLE II CIRCLE
Album: THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (CD)

Year: 2005
Media type: CD

For a period of eight years from 1992 until August 2000, Zachary Stevens was the mere infallible lead singer of power metal legends Savatage. His huge vocal range, controlled crafts and thrilling energy guaranteed splendid gigs night after night, every single show worthy of a live album. The young man from South Carolina accomplished something absolutely unique in five decades of rock history. Coming into play as a real rookie, he followed the charismatic and vocally incomparable Jon Oliva as Savatage’s lead singer without getting even a slight complaint from the for-good reason spoiled fanbase.
The polishing of the uncut diamond happened early during his childhood. His ambitions to play drums at an early age led to lead him to join a Kiss cover band when he was only nine years old. Filling both the drummer and lead vocalist roles, he was light years ahead of any auditioning singers. After recording four outstanding albums with Savatage, Zak left the band rather silently.
It wasn't long before he was seeking a new endeavour. One that would allow him to spread his creative wings as well as offer the challenges that would propel him to an even higher level. Seeking another band of Savatage’s creativity and reputation was not Zak’s primary goal. Ninety-nine percent of similarly talented musicians would have tried to find a lucrative new spot somewhere in the shark pool of the biz. The earthbound former hotel manager preferred to stay home with his wife and his two little kids. He often spent time thinking out his next career moves with long time friend and Circle II Circle manager, co-founder Dan Campbell, on the porch of his self-renovated turn of the century farm house in Tampa, Florida. Quite often he would catch the fiery view of a NASA spaceship launching across the sky from Cape Canaveral above a horizon of endless strawberry fields.
During winter time 2002/2003 the family man started his comeback, logically supported by his musical family Savatage. Songwriting genius Jon Oliva and guitarist Chris Caffery co-wrote with Zak the songs for the brilliant Circle II Circle debut "Watching in Silence". Zak acted as producer of his new band and realized his dreams by hammering away the drum tracks of a long play album for the very first time in his career. The album earned glorious reviews all over the hardrock and heavy metal planet.
The production of the current second CIIC record features Zak’s talents even more intensively. But you will not face many things you haven't seen in the recording world if you once learned your skills in Jon Oliva and Paul O’Neill’s super-advanced master's school of power composition, production and improvisation.

Tracklist:

01 In This Life
02 All That Remains
03 Open Season
04 Holding On
05 Cynical Ride
06 Hollow
07 Psycho Motor
08 Faces In The Dark
09 Middle Of Nowhere
10 Lost

Line-Up:

Zak Stevens - vocals
Andrew Lee - guitars
Evan Christopher - guitars
Paul Michael Stewart - bass
Robert T. Drennan - drums

Zak Stevens Discography:

Savatage - Edge of Thorns (1993)
Savatage - Handful of Rain (1994)
Savatage - Dead Winter Dead (1995)
Savatage - The Wake Of Magellan (1997)
Circle II Circle - Watching In Silence (2003)
Circle II Circle -The Middle Of Nowhere (2005)