Reviews

...Musically this is in the vein of End of the Age. Again just a few compositions, all varying in length from reasonable to fairly long. Sauders obviously has an infatuation with the classic rock, as the sound of The Birthright Circle could easily be placed in the late 70s / early 80s. Sometimes poppy, such as ‘Richard’, sometimes symphonic. But generally Zen Rock and Roll can be compared to the old Genesis (Gabriel era), with a touch of King Crimson and even a bit of Yes. Despite this, it must be said that Saunders executes this all very good! The compositions are solid and sound great. The psychedelic artwork enhances the atmosphere the music creates and you can almost picture yourself in the 70s...
www.prog-nose.org/engels/albums_2004/zen_rock_and_roll_birthright_circle.htm

A great interview with Jonathan from Zen at Grande Rock
www.grande-rock.com/zen_rock_&_roll.htm

On his second album, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Saunders — performing under the name Zen Rock and Roll — evokes elements of old-school (mainly British) progressive rock, world music and even 19th and 20th century art music. Featuring only four songs (three of them shorter than any track that appeared on Zen Rock and Roll’s 2002 debut, End of the Age), The Birthright Circle runs the gamut from majestic symphonic rock on opener “Thanatos” to melancholy exploration a la classic Genesis and Yes on the 23-minute closing epic “Circle.” In between, there are the lyrically sad yet musically bright-and-bouncy “Richard,” based at least in part on the poem “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and the vintage-Kansas-tinged ballad “Anthem,” which despite its agnostic tone is easily the closest Zen Rock and Roll comes to a traditionally structured song. The Birthright Circle boasts demanding material that challenges listeners. But then again, isn't that what progressive rock is all about?
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=1615

...So, what's the verdict? A very decent sophomore effort that I think will improve on repeated hearings over time. Saunders has a lot of ideas and the skills to implement those ideas. The results will prove to be more than acceptable to the modern progressive rock fan, particularly those that are into music of a more symphonic nature. The booklet artwork is also exceptionally good, the sleeve opening out to form a single large picture (like the halcyon days of gatefold LP sleeves!).
www.dprp.net/reviews/200448.html#zen

French review
www.progressivewaves.com/Chronique.aspx?ID=927

French review in Belgium
www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=533

Italian Review
www.hmp.it/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=3638