ARENA

(UNITED KINGDOM)

PEPPER'S GHOST

(2005)
LABEL:

VERGLAS

GENRE:

PROGRESSIVE ROCK

TAGS:
Easy-Listening, Neo, Theatrical
"Despite its FM side, Pepper's Ghost is a very good album that fans will appreciate without forcing themselves"
TORPEDO (30.11.2004)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s)
In this year 2005, Arena will be ten years old. Pepper's Ghost, the seventh album from this "super-group", is intended to be a gift from Arena to its fans. No change in the band is to be deplored, which only augurs well after the excellent "Contagion" released two years earlier. Did they manage to do as well or better than their previous album?

Arena has decided to cut short one of their trademark of only offering albums whose history is built from the first to the last track. This time, Clive Nolan and his troupe have concocted seven independent tracks based on a common theme. As is often the case with Arena, this theme is quite abstract and will talk to us about perception problems that can lead to psychological disorders.

Musically, fans will be delighted to learn that the style has not changed radically. They will therefore rediscover the very personal alchemy of Arena, between electric and synthetic, giving a very particular dimension to each of the tracks and which has made the reputation of this group now unavoidable. 

On the other hand, they may be surprised by the hardening of some compositions which inexorably pushes them towards Metal classification while remaining far from a Dream Theater. The main elements leading to this observation are John Mitchell's guitar, sometimes with very aggressive riffs, and especially Mike Pointer's drums, an evolution I was far from expecting. The rhythmics have gained a lot of punch and power and I will mention for example the few power ups ending in an absolutely enjoyable double pedal.

Why then did Pepper's Ghost lose a point to Contagion? This difference does not come from the singing of Rob Sowden, imperial, or any other musician for that matter, but rather from the construction of the titles themselves. If the choruses are almost all of a rare efficiency (with a special mention for the one "Opera Fanatica") and the soli very catchy, the verses suffer from a repetitive side. 

Despite this flaw that occasionally gives the impression of having to deal with verse/refrains FM tracks, Pepper's Ghost is a very good album that fans will appreciate without forcing themselves. As for those who don't know Arena, it would be time to fill this gap.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Bedlam Fayre - 06:03
02. Smoke And Mirrors - 04:42
03. The Shattered Room - 09:45
04. The Eyes Of Lara Moon - 04:30
05. Tantalus - 06:51
06. Purgatory Road - 07:25
07. Opera Fanatica - 13:06

LINEUP:
Clive Nolan: Claviers
Ian Salmon: Basse
John Mitchell: Guitares
Mick Pointer: Batterie
Rob Sowden: Chant
   
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