Circle II Circle are a bit unsteady in their development and it's getting harder to predict what we should expect from them after all this time. First they started really confident by creating two memorable albums, a bunch of good concerts, frolic… Now things are different. “Burden of Truth”, which was connected with “The DaVinci Code”, received some good and some bad comments about it and the interest obviously decreased... Now, with “Delusions of Grandeur” the boys have a wonderful occasion to see how the land lies with the topical adjustments of their music. Unfortunately it is not as confident as it should be at this stage of the development of the band and it’s quite hesitant. What's most successful in it are the ballads and the mid-tempo songs - not the energetic compositions, which are mostly filled with smashing riffs. The whole album is a bit slow and tranquil and I can only suppose if this new direction has been purposefully chosen. From the beginning with “Fatal Warning” the light is on, blinking intrusively on a big sign with an inscription saying: “Savatage”. Yes, we remember Jon Oliva’s Pain, too - the similarity between the name of the song and this of the latest album of Oliva’s band is the first from many common things here. Actually this song is a strange choice for an opener - the vocals are pulled out in the corner from where they can’t be heard. The balance between the guitar heaviness and the rhythm section is repaired to the end of the record, but the feeling that we listen to a demo version is now stronger. Without many surprises I can show up “Echoes” as the best song on “Delusions of Grandeur” - not because it’s a ballad, but because Zak Stevens sings incredibly in it. It’s a pity that Circle II Circle are getting mediocre through the years and unfortunately this album does not make the situation better.