Introduction

At one time, Great Britain was the center of the progressive rock and metal universe. It is home to legendary progressive rock bands such Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Marillion. The country is the birthplace of godly metal pioneers Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Rainbow. And, later, it gave us the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, led by Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Scorpions, and other bands that married classic metal and progressive rock elements. The country's last decade saw the old masters fading, and only a handful of new bands emerging. The rest of Europe and the USA seem to be leading the progressive rock and metal charge.

The newer progressive British bands include Arena, and Threshold. Arena, in particular, is an amazingly talented band that blends the sweep of progressive rock with some metal darkness and heaviness. Arena makes compelling music for the head, heart and soul. Their music is in the same class as the critically acclaimed Dream Theater, Spock's Beard, Artension, Flower Kings, and Marillion. Arena is a welcome addition to the progressive genre, and a band that can be enjoyed by many people of differing musical tastes.

The current Arena lineup is awesome, and includes master drummer Mick Pointer, a founding member of Marillion. Keyboard wizard Clive Nolan is known for his outstanding work in Ayreon, Pendragon, and Shadowland. Nolan and Pointer have been with the band since it's inception. John Mitchell, guitarist extraordinaire, has recorded with Annie Lennox, and Legion. Mitchell has played for Arena on two studio releases, an EP, and a live album. Excellent bass player and new member, Ian Salmon, is also from Shadowland. Rounding out the band is the superb new vocalist Rob Sowden, from the band Red Mercury.

Arena's new release for 2000 is "Immortal?" a fitting title for an instant classic. This wonderful album has everything a progressive music fan expects from a band of this caliber; penultimate composition, supreme musicianship, and excellent production. It has darkness, light, heaviness, softness, bombastic sweep, lush melodies, and emotionally moving vocal lines. The instrumentation is outstanding, and on a par with such classics as Yes - Close to the Edge, Genesis - Selling England by the Pound, and Marillion - Brave. I predict this will be voted as one of the best releases for 2000.

Seven tracks make up the new recording. Immortal? is a concept album, mainly based around the question of beliefs and why we are here on this planet. Let's examine each track and see where the journey leads.

And where will you find Immortality?
Kneeling In Misery?
Making endless reassurances, lost in naivety?
Standing up, looking up?
Conjurors hoaxers exploiters killers occultists volunteers?
Hatred or love leading you?
Submerged in lifelong kudos?
Perhaps you have already found it!

01.  Chosen (6:21)  The sound of buzzing … Insects? Aliens? Synapses? … Then a soft voice entreating, "Take a leap of faith if you want to find out." This lays the foundation for the track's monumental chorus, and creation of a new progressive rock/metal classic. Bombastic and covering a lot of musical ground, it features crunchy metal riffs, stinging guitar solo, gut-wrenching vocals, superb keyboards, samples, excellent bass and drums, and great lyrics. The nameless ones sing, "We live amongst you, in the guise of mortal men. You'll never see us in the crowd. We only look towards what purpose we've been sent, and wait until the time is now." A bombastic, hair-raising tune to kick off the album!

02.  Waiting for the Flood (5:54)  A pleasant acoustic tune highlighting the beautiful voice of Rob Sowden. Mellotron and synthesizer swirls add atmosphere to John Mitchell's acoustic guitar. Rob sings of the inevitable, "It really doesn't matter now, the end will be the same. It really doesn't matter how the world will rise again. There's nothing you can do to stop the river flowing blood. The betting man has played his hand. He's waiting for the flood." However there's some comfort in the knowledge of past lives, "You walked with me before, you know. We crossed this land before, you know. You talked with me before, you know. You held my hand before, you know." This is a beautiful and thought provoking song.

03.  The Butterfly Man (8:56)  Here is one of the standouts of the album. It begins with tinkling bell-sounding keys. An awesome, sweeping, emotional guitar solo is the centerpiece of this classic. The tune is dark and utterly beautiful due to the contrasts of heavy and sweet guitar, emotional singing, heavenly keyboard sounds, and driving rhythms. The tune is a mini-epic, with multiple time changes, telling the tale of the evil Butterfly Man, "He waits in the dark for lives, misguided and wrecked. The catcher of innocent souls. He's proud of his human collection. Of losers who give up the chase. Of winners who fail to look round. He creeps up behind the fallen and blind. They're gone! With hardly a sound." You will be singing along with the plaintive chorus, "'Save me - somebody reach out a hand. Save me from the agony, caught in the grip of The Butterfly Man." Sleep tight, as the track ends with haunting whispering voices!

04.  Ghost in the Firewall (4:55)  As if the Butterfly Man weren't enough to blow us away, another standout track follows. It begins with a heartbeat - mine? Yours? - and metallic sounding keyboards. Slow drumming joins in, and then the supreme vocals of Sowden, "Oh - Like the ghost in the Firewall. Oh - Like a virus in the system. Oh - Like the ghost in the Firewall. Let me in. Let me fade away." It's interesting to note that computer viruses may be like an Alien invasion; it's there, waiting for the right moment, as Rob sings, "Look for me here. My name is Legion. Look for me here. We are many - we are one. Keep me on the inside, Lost in the crowd." Brilliant! Great, bombastic keys drive the chorus and the main body of the song. This track highlights the immense keyboard talents of Clive Nolan, and shows why he is so integral to the band's sound.

05.  Climbing up the Net (4:40)  Overall this is a good tune, perhaps the weakest on the album, almost formulaic, as if it's been done before. Multi-layered keyboards and a guitar solo is the highlight. Sowden is in fine form singing, "We're climbing - We're climbing up the net. We're climbing - We're reaching for the sky." It's not a throwaway track; it just doesn't do that much for me. Perhaps with time it will seem better.

06.  Moviedrome (19:46)  And now we arrive at the centerpiece, the gem of the album. It begins with a low rumble, and ethereal feminine keyboard choir. The rest of the track is an amazing journey across an intoxicating musical soundscape. Lush, symphonic keyboards, heavy guitar, bombastic drumming, thumping bass, and breathtaking vocals arrive next. Sowden sings his heart out, "We're all sucked in, part of the core collective. We're all dragged in, blind to the cause we've been selected for.... elected for." Two fantastic guitar solos, flawlessly executed by Mitchell, are a highlight. The man can grove and rock with the best of them. Clive Nolan's keys are simply awe-inspiring. He is unlike any other in the use of keyboards to evoke emotions and imagery. Just when you think the song might be ending, the band kicks in again, and takes the track up another level. This is a milestone composition that will be remembered for years.

07.  Friday's Dream (4:44)  To close out this classic recording we are given a beautiful ballad of hope. Rob show us more of his vocal prowess, "It's a world that's far away. From the sound of people calling, 'free me from these chains.' It's a moment of escape, as the blood of fallen angels scars the earth, tearing at the innocent once more." And, he sings in hopeful counterpoint, "When I close my eyes, I pray we'll find a shelter from the rain. What I dream tonight may rest with me, till morning comes, till morning comes and I wake up." The band provides layers of acoustic guitar, lush keyboards, and nice rhythmic backing. A fine way to close a fine album.