Arena - Rapture (2013) [DVD9 NTSC]

Actors: Arena
Format: DVD Audio, NTSC
Audio: English
Language: English
Format image: 1.33:1
Disc: 1
Studio: Metal Mind
Date versione DVD: 22 apr. 2013


The gathering of ARENA's famous musicians makes a super-group: Mick POINTER (Ex-MARILLION) plays the drums, Clive NOLAN (PENDRAGON) the keyboards, and Keith MORE (ASIA) played the guitar until replaced by John MITCHELL (Ex-Kino).Vocalist Rob SOWDEN has been with the band since IMMORTAL? and the bass player is Ian SALMON. There have also been some guest appearances by Tracy HITCHINGS (singer of QUASAR, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN & LANDMARQ) and Steve ROTHERY (MARILLION's gifted guitarist).

"Songs From The Lion's Cage" is then a very professional Progressive rock, both close to MARILLION and hard-rock. "Pride", their second opus issued in 1996 (one year after the previous one) confirmed the high musical level of this band, at a time when they added a touch IQ to their music. Curiously the band's sound gained in heaviness after their 2 first albums, and the music quality increased a lot in originality and musicianship.

Recorded in 1998, "The Visitor" alternates passages inspired by Steve HOGARTH's group along with some dark instrumentation. "Immortal" shows a new heavier dimension that still remains anchored in the best neo-Progressive music. "Moviedrome" is an excellent twenty minute track. "Contagion" follows the glorious tradition of "Immortal", although I found it more hard edged and multidimensional from all aspects. This powerful and evoking concept album tells about the quest for redemption, through the vision of a dark and anguishing future. No doubt about it, people won't have to think for a long time before electing the best album of winter 2002-2003! One of the best bands on the English scene nowadays... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


Rapture (2013, digipack) was filmed in 2011 in Katowice, Poland, shortly after the release of The Seventh Degree of Separation album. In addition to long-time members Clive Nolan, Mick Pointer, and John Mitchell, the lineup includes bassist John Jowitt (IQ) and singer Paul Manzi (Oliver Wakeman Band). In addition to 20 songs spanning Arenaís career, there is additional footage from a 2011 concert in Warsaw, plus an interview with Nolan and Pointer. Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo audio, 152 minutes


Songs / Tracks Listing

1. The Great Escape
2. Crack in the Ice
3. Don't Forget to Breathe
4. City of Lanterns
5. What If?
6. One Last Au Revoir
7. Burning Down
8. Serenity
9. Valley of the Kings
10. Crying for Help IV
11. The Eyes of Lara Moon
12. Ghost in the Firewall
13. Rapture
14. The Ghost Walks
15. Bedlam Fayre
16. The Tinder Box
17. The Visitor
18. Solomon
19. Crying for Help VII
20. Ascension

Extra features:
1. Interview with Mick Pointer and Clive Nolan
2. Additional "Live in Warsaw, 2011" footage
3. Photo gallery
4. Discography information and desktop images

Line-up / Musicians

- Clive Nolan / keyboards, vocals
- Paul Manzi / lead vocals
- John Mitchell / guitars, vocals
- John Jowitt / bass
- Mick Pointer / drums
Releases information