Arena - Contagion
	Released: 2003 Label: Verglas Cat. No.: VGCD024 Total Time: 58:48
	Reviewed by: Davide Guidone, January 2003 Only today (the 31st of January) I was able to listen to the new Arena release instead of the official date of 27th because of Italian delivery. I have to say it’s awful! [Italian mail delivery, that is –ed.] However, the first thought I had was about David Wyatt’s art design: I immediately believed it was wonderful. Afterwards, I put the CD in the Hi-Fi: the opening track, "Witch Hunt," is a piece that could be written by a metal group. This consideration means that the band had a different approach to this album from that of Songs From The Lion's Cage, for example. In fact, this work is absolutely new and original and I guess it will be imitated by a lot of musicians from now on. It’s a mixture of prog-rock and metal, but not such that it represents the classic prog-metal, like that performed by Dream Theater. Its sound is different: more melodic and devoid of the usual extreme technicalities. Arena save their soloist moments for the instrumental tracks, which are very emotionally involving. Contagion is a concept album and speaks of a very pessimistic approach to the life. You can notice it reading all the lyrics, entirely written by Clive Nolan and this fact is perfectly represented by many “sad songs." Nolan, strangely, is not the protagonist as usual; the only piece where he is the main player is "Riding The Tide," an instrumental that has a keyboard theme that reminded me of Genesis’ "The Cinema Show." John Mitchell, instead, plays a lot of guitar solos, like the beautiful and “destroying” one on "Witch Hunt." To conclude, this is a magnificent release. Marillion are miles off. I’m asking myself what the critics will say… [See also Keith's, John's, and Marcel's reviews - ed.] More about Contagion: Track Listing: Witch Hunt / An Angel Falls / Painted Man / This Way Madness Lies (instr.) / Spectre At The Feast / Never Ending Night / Skin Game / Salamander / On The Box (instr.) / Tsunami / Bitter Harvest / The City Of Lanterns / Riding The Tide (instr.) / Mea Culpa / Cutting The Cards / Ascension Musicians: Rob Sowden – Vocals John Mitchell - Guitar and backing vocals Clive Nolan - Keyboards and backing vocals Ian Salmon – Bass Mick Pointer – Drums Contact: Website: www.verglas.com/arenaworld Note: will open new browser window Email: arena@verglas.com Discography Songs From The Lion's Cage (1995) Pride (1996) Welcome To The Stage (1997) The Cry (EP, 1997) The Visitor (1998) The Visitor - Revisited (1999) Dutch fan club only release Immortal? (2000) Unlocking The Cage - 1995-2000 (2001) Dutch fan club only release Breakfast In Biarritz (2001) Contagion (2003) Radiance (2003) fan club only release Pepper's Ghost (2005) Caught In The Act (2003) (DVD)
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