IMMORTAL?

When I discovered Arena, at first I was shocked with Songs from the Lion's Cage and The Visitor, two extraordinaries albums, but then I paid attention to Inmortal?, and finally I realized that it is a great album too. In fact, about all the Arena's stuff, these three albums are the best by far for me. Here, the band moves to an even harder territory in which the new voice of Rob Sowden fits really well. A bit of industrial sounds, hard riffs and a different keyboard sound (really powerful in some songs), make to Inmortal? something different but with the seal of Arena. The opening Chosen is a really powerful number based in a strong drum work and hard riffs. Nolan brings a solid keyboard support for the song an Sowden fits perfect. Butterfly Man is another powerful track combining peaceful sections with strong ones, in the way of Solomon. Once more again, the work of Nolan fills the song with this enormous sound, and this effect takes more relevance in the amazing Ghost in the firewall, a stunning track. Moviedrome is the epic, very cohesive, dramatic and powerful track, with good instrumentals and guitar riffs. Even with some pompous section, just great. The album completes itself with the Marillionesque Climbing the Net, in the Arena's old style, domined by Nolan's keyboards, a good track, and with two soft acoustic numbers of great quality, specially the closing Friday's dream, an amazing ballad. Great album and an excellent addition for any prog rock collection.