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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After a wait of 6 years, Arena are finally back with their seventh studio album (following Contagion in 2002 and Pepper's Ghost in 2005). And the wait has certainly been worthwhile. The Seventh Degree of Separation is a triumph of focused song writing, mixing a brilliant musical vision with penetrating lyrics and insightful story telling. The combination is superb, proving to be both poignant and moving in equal measure. The classic Arena sound is still here, but the band is tighter, blending creative musicianship with technical craftsmanship to create a vast canvas on which to paint the narrative of what happens at the end of life.
In the engine room, Clive Nolan on keyboards and Mick Pointer on drums are outstanding. Listen for the interaction between them: repeated playing reveals a quite exceptional interaction which creates the horizon and atmosphere within which the tale is told. New addition to the line-up Paul Manzi provides breath-taking vocals: moody, inspiring, melancholic, triumphant - the range is inspiring and the depth of expression breath-taking. The ever brilliant John Mitchell on guitar brings a spell-binding ability to captivate, to carry you along to the heights and depths of the life and death events being played out. And welcome back John Jowitt on bass: a master craftsman who brings tone, substance and depth to the tale. Together they are utterly outstanding.
If you have recently lost someone close to you, this album will speak volumes to those who carefully listen. There are odd comments and phrases in the lyrics which speak of the pain of grief, or the puzzlement of why people leave us, of what it must be like both for those who go and those who are left behind. This is inspired on so many levels. I heartily recommend it.
In the engine room, Clive Nolan on keyboards and Mick Pointer on drums are outstanding. Listen for the interaction between them: repeated playing reveals a quite exceptional interaction which creates the horizon and atmosphere within which the tale is told. New addition to the line-up Paul Manzi provides breath-taking vocals: moody, inspiring, melancholic, triumphant - the range is inspiring and the depth of expression breath-taking. The ever brilliant John Mitchell on guitar brings a spell-binding ability to captivate, to carry you along to the heights and depths of the life and death events being played out. And welcome back John Jowitt on bass: a master craftsman who brings tone, substance and depth to the tale. Together they are utterly outstanding.
If you have recently lost someone close to you, this album will speak volumes to those who carefully listen. There are odd comments and phrases in the lyrics which speak of the pain of grief, or the puzzlement of why people leave us, of what it must be like both for those who go and those who are left behind. This is inspired on so many levels. I heartily recommend it.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Now, when the mighty "Peppers Ghost" was released and not long after, Arena members went off to do their own individual things, I thought well at least they went out on an absolute high - so no tears. However, when it was announced that the band was back together and recording a new album, I was quick to add my name to the waiting list and now that it's here and I've had a dozen or so listenings, I have to say that I am thrilled with it! No, it's not a continuation where "Peppers" left off, but contains more little tunes than just a handful of epics and, does it rock....oh yes indeedy!
Kicking off with The Great Escape, we're soon into the power chords from John Mitchell and thumping rythmn from John Jowitt's bass and the drums of Mick Pointer. The voice, is that of Paul Manzi although, you'd be hard pressed to guess that it wasn't Rob Sowden as it fits precisely with the music and sound that is Arena - Clive Nolan has chosen well and added his towering keyboards to weave in and out of the powerful melodies on display here - and none more so than on The Ghost Walks, Bed Of Nails, Burning Down, The Tinder Box and the epic Catching The Bullet - my oh my, this is an almost faultless collection of songs, brilliantly played and brilliantly recorded - well, nothing less than a very, very high bar is what we have come to expect from this band!
Mention must also go to the DVD documentary of the making of the album as it does give an insight into what truly goes into the making of an album. And mention must also be made of the packaging - full of brilliant photo's that go to make up one very
sound investment for any British Prog Rock follower.
If you like Arena, this has to be a purchase - for those who have not yet been smitten, you'll go an awful long way to top this class outfit - BUY!
Kicking off with The Great Escape, we're soon into the power chords from John Mitchell and thumping rythmn from John Jowitt's bass and the drums of Mick Pointer. The voice, is that of Paul Manzi although, you'd be hard pressed to guess that it wasn't Rob Sowden as it fits precisely with the music and sound that is Arena - Clive Nolan has chosen well and added his towering keyboards to weave in and out of the powerful melodies on display here - and none more so than on The Ghost Walks, Bed Of Nails, Burning Down, The Tinder Box and the epic Catching The Bullet - my oh my, this is an almost faultless collection of songs, brilliantly played and brilliantly recorded - well, nothing less than a very, very high bar is what we have come to expect from this band!
Mention must also go to the DVD documentary of the making of the album as it does give an insight into what truly goes into the making of an album. And mention must also be made of the packaging - full of brilliant photo's that go to make up one very
sound investment for any British Prog Rock follower.
If you like Arena, this has to be a purchase - for those who have not yet been smitten, you'll go an awful long way to top this class outfit - BUY!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Can only really second what all the positive reviews have said. This is a superb album - medium to heavy rock with some power metal elements at time too. It's most reminiscent of Dream Theater in their more balladic moments, maybe a bit of Kamelot thrown in too.
Obviously if you're looking for the 25 minute epics of earlier tracks like Moviedrome then you may be disappointed but the whole thing is a wonderful listening experience, made it on to my MP3 player without hesitation.
Quick note to parents - the album comes with a "Parental Advisory" on the cover, but so far as the lyrics are concerned I only picked up one F-Bomb in the second track and that's in context.
Obviously if you're looking for the 25 minute epics of earlier tracks like Moviedrome then you may be disappointed but the whole thing is a wonderful listening experience, made it on to my MP3 player without hesitation.
Quick note to parents - the album comes with a "Parental Advisory" on the cover, but so far as the lyrics are concerned I only picked up one F-Bomb in the second track and that's in context.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Won't play in laptops
Very dissappointed. This album will not play in any of my laptops although it will play on a conventional CD player. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Press
Hugely Listenable
If you like Pendragaon, but are less sure about the singer (I happen to like Marmite), then this might be for you. Read more
Published 4 months ago by R. W.
Great album
Have been an Arena fan for years Have got all of their albums. This isn`t their best album, but is still worthy of five stars. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Steve
disappointing
This album is ok but it lacks the earlier magic of the band if you like their music all heavy you will enjoy it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. C. Everett
Brilliant!!
For me album of the year! I think Arenas best to date heard some of the tracks at Leamington...I think the new singer fits in better than the previous!! Read more
Published 5 months ago by P. Linden
Nolan on a roll!
I've long been an admirer of Clive Nolan's keyboard skills. However, what I didnt know is how quietly he is challenging John Mitchell as prog's most prolific artist. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mike Progfan
Welcome back
After 6 long years of waiting we welcome back Arena.
From the opening a capella from new singer Paul Manzi to the spoken word at the very end, this album rocks. Read more
From the opening a capella from new singer Paul Manzi to the spoken word at the very end, this album rocks. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Samuel Houston
Another Fine ARENA Album
Having listened to this new Arena Album 10x plus now, have to say It's excellent, not your Normal Arena a lot of shorter Rocky tracks, rather than the long ones we are used to, not... Read more
Published 5 months ago by STEPHEN NORRIS
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