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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Great debut this. While bands like Marillion and Porcupine Tree choose to distance themselves from the prog tag, Arena seem to wear it like a badge of honour. This is unashamed swirling prog at it's finest, with influences there for all to see. There are shades of Genesis, and Yes from the 70s and Marillion, IQ and Pendragon from the 80s. Not surprising considering keyboard player Clive Nolan and drummer Mick Pointer played in Pendragon and Marillion respectively. Having said all that though, Arena certainly have their own style and the music on offer isn't as anachronistic as it may seem.
The epic tracks are the main centre pieces of the album and 'Out Of The Wlderness', 'Valley Of The Kings' and closer 'Solomon' certainly don't disappoint on that score. Each track is played with genuine flair by all band members with some storming instrumental passages and classic time changes.
Arena aren't just about complex arrangements though, 'Jericho' and 'Midas Vision' have memorable hooks and melodies and 'Crying For Help IV' is a superb, bleeding hearted track with an excellent cameo guitar solo from Marillion's Steve Rothery.
The band also break up the big numbers with four nice, short musical interludes of which the aformentioned 'Crying For Help IV' is one.
It's a sensible tactic that Arena repeat on the follow up to this, 1996's 'Pride'.
The production is smooth and beefy with a modern feel and with a total running time of just under an hour, 'Songs From The Lion's Cage' never threatens to outstay it's welcome.
It's a highly satisfying record and a worthy addition to the collection of any self respecting prog fan.
The epic tracks are the main centre pieces of the album and 'Out Of The Wlderness', 'Valley Of The Kings' and closer 'Solomon' certainly don't disappoint on that score. Each track is played with genuine flair by all band members with some storming instrumental passages and classic time changes.
Arena aren't just about complex arrangements though, 'Jericho' and 'Midas Vision' have memorable hooks and melodies and 'Crying For Help IV' is a superb, bleeding hearted track with an excellent cameo guitar solo from Marillion's Steve Rothery.
The band also break up the big numbers with four nice, short musical interludes of which the aformentioned 'Crying For Help IV' is one.
It's a sensible tactic that Arena repeat on the follow up to this, 1996's 'Pride'.
The production is smooth and beefy with a modern feel and with a total running time of just under an hour, 'Songs From The Lion's Cage' never threatens to outstay it's welcome.
It's a highly satisfying record and a worthy addition to the collection of any self respecting prog fan.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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10 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Music as good as old Marillion
9 Jan 1999
Format:Audio CD
This fantastic album is much like the kind of music as performed by early Marillion (with Fish). If you like(d) old Marillion, you'll love this, too. No wonder, as Arena is founded by Mick Pointer, well known as Drummer of early Marillion! I can also highly recommend the 2nd album of arena, "Pride".
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Not so bald... nor even two-wigged.
8 Dec 2001
Format:Audio CD
By reading the reviews right here you can notice two things:
1- This is a superb early-90s prog rock band, or
2- This is a shamelessly clone of an average copy from a prog rock sacred idol.
In my humble opinion Arena's not one thing nor the other.
Arena is a well balanced modern prog rock assemble with a strong influence from early bands. By no means they're bad musicians or performers. Their compositions are well above average for a newly formed band (by the time they released this album).
1- This is a superb early-90s prog rock band, or
2- This is a shamelessly clone of an average copy from a prog rock sacred idol.
In my humble opinion Arena's not one thing nor the other.
Arena is a well balanced modern prog rock assemble with a strong influence from early bands. By no means they're bad musicians or performers. Their compositions are well above average for a newly formed band (by the time they released this album).
The ¨Crying for help¨ series conform a good concept set. ¨Jericho¨ and ¨Solomon¨ are two very thoroughly assembled compositions both in music and poetry.
Of course, if you're that kind of radical Genesis fan(atic) that do not accept by any means listening to another similar bell, I guarantee you'll hate it.
Otherwise, just give it a chance. Listen to it, and judge for yourself.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Very similar to early Marillion and Rush: evolving work
29 Dec 2003
Format:Audio CD
Quite clearly there are striking similarities between the voice of Arena's lead singer and that of Fish (from early Marillion). And so are there resemblances in some of their harmonies with Rush's music. But the bottom line is that Arena hasn't stopped at that, in the same way as IQ didn't. Their work has only evolved (as Marillion's did from their VERY Geneis-like early days!) to get better and better, putting them among the greatest of (art) prog rock of these days, alongside Flower Kings and the like. Though this might not be their best album, it is far from deserving a solitary one star like another reviewer gave them. I see 'Songs From the Lions Cage' as a solid four stars.
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