Pepper's Ghost

I bought this one on impulse - listened to a few soundbites, read a few reviews - without having purchased other works by this artist. Needless to say, I was quite impressed by the musicality and the production values employed on this album. I certainly hear some influences by Asia (Wetton-era), some '80s-era Rush, a bit of Symphony X. Overall, an outstanding blend of melodic and rhythmic rock + mostly thoughtful lyrics (minimal cheese). No mindless noodling. Highly recommended for progressive rock fans.

The new one from epic melodic rockers Arena didn't strike me as interesting as their previous work, 'Contagion'(2003). I guess it's hard to follow up a career defining moment like Contagion. You just get on with the next album, I suppose. As much as I liked the last one, at least they didn't repeat Contagion, though there are a few bits which may recall earlier work like 'Songs From The Lion's Cage(1995) and 'Immortal'(2000).

They still have that big, epic sound which still appeals to fans of stuff like Pallas, IQ or Jadis.

'Pepper's Ghost' is Arena's most 'accessible' album to date, with guitars up in the mix, making some tracks bordering on prog-metal ala Threshold. Already on a high with his other group Kino who just put out their excellent debut, John Mitchel shines throughout. Strangely enough, keyboardist and mainman Clive Nolan seems buried here and there or at least content to let John shine. Mick's drums sound solid too. Of course I've grown to really like vocalist Rob Sowden, and he sings with the expected soul and power he has since he joined in 1999. This is the definitive line-up of Arena, and one can already hear the growth in the members' playing and writing. This is the third studio album by Arena line-up #3, and to me they no longer have that stygma of being a 'neo-prog' supergroup made up of ex-members of Marillion, Pendragon and Jadis. They have by now forged their own identity and sound, which is good.

Also, though Arena's albums are usually conceptual in one way or another, 'Pepper' is not a concept album like 'Contagion'. The songs follow a certain theme (insanity, I think) throughout, yet they can be taken as individual tracks, unlike Contagion or 1998's 'The Visitor', where the music was strung together and continuous. Arena has eased up on some of their gloom and doom to some extent, and the band members apearing in comic book form for the story in the CD booklet is cool. The trax:

BEDLAM FAYRE - opens with the usual circus-of-the-macabre sounds before launching into a punchy opener. In better days, this could have been a solid minor hit radio track.

SMOKE & MIRRORS - Rob's voice is expressive here. Again, solid and accessible.

THE SHATTERED ROOM - the first epic track of the album goes through the expected mood changes and textures. Though this could be seen as Arena-by-numbers, it's still enjoyable.

THE EYES OF LARA MOON - shortest track here, but also a memorable chorus. Kind of folk-ish. Not folk as in acoustic guitars or Bob Dylan and such, more like folk-tale imagery. The Balad Of Lara Moon, if you will.

TANTALUS - the obligatory 'eerie' track, like 'Butterfly Man' or 'Don't Forget To Breath' before it.

PURATORY ROAD - nice guitars and synths. A slower, heavy number.

OPERA FANATICA - the closing epic clocks in at 13 minutes and has an anthemic chorus and some tricky organ/guitar interplay. A big, epic sound. This would be a good live track.

Maybe Arena are preaching to the converted, just putting out the next album. Maybe they hit their target audience, no more no less(the InsideOut label enthusiasts and prog-heads). Perhaps, but they still can put out a decent heavy melodic rock album which should be in your collection with the rest of the Arena catalog.

Arena produces another superb disc with Pepper's Ghost. The master lyricist/keyboardist/producer wizard Clive Nolan yet again delivers innovation with lyrics about mystery and imagination along with contributing to the Victorian cover art and comic style booklet. Also, the production is spacious but crisp which reveals good detail making for great sound.

The sound is a mix of heavy symphonic rock and progressive rock. Without a doubt, this disc contains the heaviest music of all of their studio albums. Bedlum Fayre is a terrific opener of racing synthesizer coupled with excellent guitar. However, what I immediately notice is the rhythm section having much more of a 'bite' to it than in the past. Mick Pointer/drums cuts loose big time yet has never sounded better, and you can easily follow Ian Salmon/bass which is deep and tight without it becoming lost in the mix. Though the rhythm section thrusts forth much more power, it never degenerates to becoming merely gaudy. How about the vocals? Well, Rob Sowden makes a magnificent presentation highlighted by the emotional Tantalus and thoroughly captivating The Eyes of Lara Moon. Arguably, he is one of the finest vocalists in rock today if not the best. Furthermore, the interplay between John Mitchell/ guitar and Clive Nolan is metallic and beautiful when necessary. Indeed, you just listen to the glorious Smoke and Mirrors, progressive sounding Shattered Room, and the grand Opera Fanatica. In concert, the more mainstream Purgatory Road would definitely bring down the house with its rocking, catchy chorus and incisive lyrics!

Of course, I can see why some fans of Contagion & The Visitor are having a difficult time accepting Pepper's Ghost with the different musical twist this time around. But remember, bands that continue to repeat themselves are generally not viable very long or making significant music. Thus, this disc should be evaluated on its own merit and not judged against your favorite album by the band-Do not reach any conclusions about this disc until you have listened to it for about 6 times.

Warning: The music contained on this disc to the best of my knowledge has not been influenced nor inspired by Dream Theater, Abba, Rush, Jackson 5, Metallica, or the Dixie Chicks *chuckle*.