Time Capsule (Arena, 2022)

 This was one of the first tracks Arena  released from their "The Theory of Molecular Inheritance" album and one of the more diversified ones. The album was based on a tricky concept about a scientist able to riproduce the genius of dead people into living brains. 

Arena publish on their own Verglas label.

This is a surprising song, including both hard and melodic passages, all perfectly melt into a coherent sound. Mitchell vocals are stunning and, of corse, all the band are there to show their skills. Pure prog, folks!

The Hanging Tree (Arena, 1998)

"The Visitor" by Arena is an album I like very much and this song, "The Hanging Tree", perfectly represents its richly flavoured mood. It starts like an atmospheric ballad, then a thick and epic wall of sounds comes in like an approaching storm. Soon after a theatrical vocal passage, here you are a Floydian guitar solo, a pleasant return of the first sung theme, another wall of sound and a bombastic chorus, followed by the final guitar solo.

The 1998 line-up: Wrightson, Mitchell, Nolan, Jowitt & Pointer.

This flushing material is so well organised, so beautifully composed and arranged and so coherent that I used to listen compulsively to this song back in the late '90s and I still put it on from time to time. Probably because of its airy main theme, or maybe because of its dynamic pattern, I think this is one of the best achievements of a band that surely left (and still leaves) a deep mark in the story of neo-progressive genre. And I can but thank them for that.

Sirens (Arena, 1996)

When it comes to Arena, I immediately declare I love all their albums before their conversion to the metal religion. Albums like "Pride", for example, have a special touch, made of brilliant sounds and epic atmospheres, and kind of a joyful point of view on the progressive universe. This long song, "Sirens", is one of the best in such a musical style, full of tempo and mood changes, guitar solos, well found melodies.

"Pride" was Arena's second studio album in  1996.

 

The rythmic section too provide a lively, diversified structure on which the instrumental and vocal lines ride like on a troubled water and sometimes find a calmer sea. The main theme's different returns spot the track and virtually divide it in smaller compositions, all linked by inner and clever cross-references. A last special mention for the technical skills, simply stunning. But then, with the likes of Pointer, Nolan, Jowitt and so on, how could it be otherwise?

Crying for Help IV (Arena, 1995)

When I first listened to Arena's debut album and its epic sounds I was strongly reminded of Indiana Jone's saga... and after all there are so many archeological and biblical names in "Songs from The Lions Cage"! Do you remember? Midas, Jericho, The Valley of The Kings, Solomon... but I adored this relatively short track, really I don't know why. Maybe it's John Carson's heartfelt's interpretation, or Steve Rothery's dreaming guitar, or - more simply - that beautiful melody. Anyway, I still listen to this song when I'm searching for inspiration... yes, I'm getting old!

Arena in a '90s shot.

 

 

 

Just a little more: this is the fourth part of a series. You'll find "Crying for Help" I, II, III and IV on "Songs from The Lions Cage", while the band's second album "Pride" features four more parts. They're all beautiful variations, most of them instrumental ones. Many fans liked them so much that in 1997 Arena decided to complete and collect the series in a separate album called "The Cry", where each part was given a new title and some were added or reinterpretated. That's the case with our track, called "Only Child" in the new version. Of course, Rothery was back for a new solo.