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"Boosted by the presence of Damian Wilson, Arena delivers a "Theory of Molecular Inheritance" that is difficult to take in default. Efficient and without risk."
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4/5
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Long delayed due to covid, Arena's tenth studio album marks the integration of a renowned singer in the band. Damian Wilson, a well-known figure in the world of prog music for the past thirty years, frontman of the English progressive metal band Threshold, crossed paths with Clive Nolan, then manager and lyricist of Landmarq. The idea of a collaboration between the two musicians had been in the air for a long time and was realized on the occasion of the release of "The Theory of Molecular Inheritance".
With a concept as obscure as the one of "Seventh Degree of Separation", this album with an extremely worked artwork (as always with Arena) seduces on the other hand much more on the musical level. Without doubt the full collaboration of the band members is for a lot of it: all the titles are co-signed by the five members, except 'Confession' and 'Integration' where Mick Pointer is absent.
The whole shows a real musical coherence, with the usual markers of a band where each one finds exactly his place and has moreover his own moment: the bass of Kylan Amos on '21 Grams', the quasi-acoustic 'Confession' to highlight Damian Wilson's voice, the double pedal patterns for Mick Pointer ('Part of You'), the nice guitar soli for John Mitchell, always impeccable ('The Heiligenstadt Legacy', 'Under The Microscope'), the whole coated by the keyboards of Clive Nolan who delivers his solo of punchy and marking synth on 'Integration'.
And the contribution of Damian Wilson, in all this? Obvious and essential... while keeping a power that has nothing to envy to Paul Manzi's, he shows much more sensitivity in the calm passages ('The Heiligenstadt Legacy') and brings his vocal signature.
No real weak point on this album, except the feeling of a certain lack for the amateurs of convoluted tracks: the compositions, while remaining well labeled "progressive" (uneven measures, breaks, orchestration), remain rather simple in their structures... If you look at it, the "theme-variation-2nd theme-instrumental-surprise return to the starting point" track has been abandoned since 'The Shattered Room' in "Pepper's Ghost" in 2005! The listening of the ultimate 'Life Goes On' - very successful - reveals a melodic mid tempo pretext to a guitar solo which strongly evokes 'The Visitor', which is rather a good reference, while the vocal theme refers to 'Ascension' from "Contagion", which is also flattering but underlines the (very relative) lack of risk-taking in this album which remains a model of know-how
All in all, "The Theory of Molecular Inheritance", more than bringing its share of innovations, appears as the logical evolution of Arena's course, leading to an efficiency that is difficult to take in default. Will this quintet have the temerity to go up a notch and deliver another 'Moviedrome'? - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Time Capsule
02. The Equation (The Science of Magic)
03. Twenty-One Grams
04. Confession
05. The Heiligenstadt Legacy
06. Field of Sinners
07. Pure of Heart
08. Under the Microscope
09. Integration
10. Part of You
11. Life Goes On
LINEUP:
Clive Nolan: Chant / Claviers
Damian Wilson: Chant
John Mitchell: Chant / Guitares
Kylan Amos: Basse
Mick Pointer: Batterie
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READERS
4.5/5 (8 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (7 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH ARENA
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