Immortal?

"Immortal?" shows the band maturing yet again from their past efforts (also worth checking out, by the way), producing a high quality and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. There isn't a duff track on this album, and the production is superb. Prog rock fans should love this, especially if their tastes include Gabriel-era Genesis, Dream Theater, IQ or Marillion. However, that is not to say that this band are a pale imitation of any of the aforementioned bands, and there is also no doubting the high quality of their musicianship, in particular guitarist John Mitchell. Rather than trying to impress with widdly-diddly solos or shredding until the early hours, Mitchell concentrates on quality solos with real feeling, which are never to the detriment of the overall song. If anything, he has taken a less high-profile role here than on "The Visitor" (which contains some magnificent and moving guitar playing, especially on the title track).

For your money, you get 7 excellent tracks. "Chosen" kicks off in fine style, a solid slow-to-medium-pace rocker based around a descending power chord sequence. If you thought this was all the band were about, however, you're in for a surprise with the slow, acoustic-driven second track, the delightful "Waiting For The Flood", which shows they are equally at home on more mellow numbers. "The Butterfly Man" is a good representative example of the bands style, switching effortlessly between light and heavy textures, changing time signatures, and soaring guitars from Mitchell. This track probably wouldn't be too out of place on Genesis' "Lamb Lies Down...", though Arena have a more powerful sound when they rock. "Ghost In The Firewall" follows in a similar vein, the highlight of which is it's power-chord, doomy, slow chorus. No falling down on the next track either, the medium-paced "Climbing The Net", which sounds more like mid-70s Genesis (particularly the keyboard opening) than anything else on the album, and equally appealing. Just when you think the band must surely falter you are presented with "Moviedrome", quite possibly their finest song to date. (It's certainly their longest, clocking in at just under 20 minutes.) It's got just about everything you could possibly want from a prog rock band. Slow and fast sections, atmospheric interludes, guitar and keyboard solo highlights, not to mention excellent and highly listenable lyrics. The music changes quite frequently, and you really need to listen to the song in it's entirety to appreciate it fully. Boost the volume control to maximum around the 15 minute mark for three and a half minutes of stunning power rock, which is worth the price of the album alone. That this track does not close the album is something of a surprise, because it's a hard act to follow, but the band attempt it anyway in fine style with the slow and haunting "Friday's Dream".

Quality music throughout, from a band that just keeps getting better and better. Do whatever you can to hear this album, you're in for a real treat.