XX

Absolutely Appalling A&R.

To be clear, this is one of the worst recorded live albums I have heard in quite some time, which makes it impossible for me to personally and fully enjoy the music that is being played because the audio recording really is just that bad! For me, It doesn't matter how great the music actually is because when you have shotty, 3rd rate audio production it seems to take over and my love or attachment to whatever I am listening to is completely thrown out the window...a lost cause if you will.

Moreover to be known to all, I love Arena. This is a band that has 'wowed' me in every possible respect musically with in their what is now, a 20-year history. They have been one of those few bands that have remained blemish free with in their entire studio album discography and including live albums as well...until now.

Enter Dos Equis. Yes those hideous, blown up double X's that defecate on what was once a beautiful album cover, slapped right in the middle and below the album's actual cover art. Even from doing a half-fast hatchet job like this for the album's overall presentation, you know this could be the start of something quite poor...that is quality wise. Long story short, my initial feelings on this were right because the heart of the matter, which is the audio itself, is created with no love or care at all like the album cover art, sadly.

To begin with, the overall Dos Equis recording really does sound like it was recorded from up in a tree. I really don't understand the mic tracking placement for this album because the soundstage is so unbelievably squished and It really does sound like I'm listening to a piece of music set up in a horribly compressed lounge chamber. I just can't believe my ears and I'm so disappointed because I love Arena and I think the set list they chose is awesome and it has great flow, but I just can't enjoy it or even remotely tell if Arena is actually delivering an emotionally or memorable live performance, musically. Here's the thing. I understand that this album was recorded at a very small venue in Poland that is primarily a movie theatre, but if you are an A&R guy you should really do your homework with in the subject of Psychoacoustics and understand the steps and measures you need to take in order to record an album properly by treating the room for sound diffusion and establishing risks of echo flutter as well as under going proper microphone placement, which is that of a big one! I mean poor Mick Pointer's drums sound so compressed and lifeless that his cymbal crashes sound like pure and utter distortion. Paul Manzi's vocals are treated terribly. His presence is so far away and hollow like he is shrouded with in a cave, while Kaylin Amos's bass has absolutely no low end shimmer or feeling. It's completely flat and lifeless. Clive Nolan's keyboards have no stage presence or any punch with in the overall mix of the album. I don't hear those interesting, shadowy nuances that usually burst so much character into the flow of what is known as Arena's trademark sound. There is nothing to be found here!

Mainly, we have to look at the culprits. The A&R team for Metal Mind Productions are Michal Kuczera for the recording Engineer position. Prosound software and EQ'ing (PA) Jaroslaw Kaszyński and the mixing was done by Karl Groom, who is the only one who can be excused from the list because it's not his fault. If an album is recorded like a turgid disaster, you can't expect your album mixer to save it or make the album sound any better than how it was originally recorded in the first place. Overall, I cannot recommend anyone to purchase the CD version of this live album. It's a half fast production in just about every way that is conceivable. The album was recorded in April of 2015 and released in February of 2016, so that should give you a pretty good idea of how fast XX was slapped together....I really do mean 'slapped..'

Mainly, Arena have to examine and clean house of their A&R team at Metal Mind as well as maybe drop the label because their last DVD done in 2012 (The Rapture) was not any better. The CD version however, was actually done quite lovely for the Rapture, but to talk further about both DVD versions is mainly upsetting. For both The Rapture and XX the 5.1 mix is so boring and not dynamic at all. I hear hardly anything passing through my left and right surround rear channels. The mix for both DVD's exist mainly at the front left, right channels with very little pouring out of the center channel. Above all, there is just no immersion or dynamic channel separation. Piotr Brzeziński is the main man responsible for the 5.1 codec mix, and I feel once again a little cheated by the quality of what comes out and passes through my home theater system audio wise and of course the video isn't very good either. I mean would it kill Arena and Metal Mind to release a bloody blu-ray for once! Come on! This is 2016 for entertainment's sake! How about celebrating 20-years properly?

Thus, the DVD version of XX Isn't any better nor is it a saving grace somehow. Arena need a new label and should start doing right by themselves by hiring a quality team of video and A&R Specialists to represent what a quality band Arena truly are. There is no doubt in my metal mind, that as far as Neo Prog with a metallic edge goes? Arena are second to none. What a shame that 20-years couldn't be represented in a more professional manner by their record label. This really is upsetting and is exactly why I personally put so much weight and importance into proper audio engineering or the art and science behind sound recording in general cause this live album is a perfect example of how great music can be greatly misrepresented. A&R is a bit of a thankless job in the music business, so this album is yet another perfect example as to why we should appreciate the Alan Parsons, the Andy Jackson's, the Terry Brown's and the mastering capabilities of the Bob Ludwig's with in audio engineering/production world. All I can say to you healthy listeners out there, that if you like how an album sounds to you look at the album credits. Look at the names of the individuals who have brought your music to life! You may see them, like I do, as actual members of the band because of their value.

In conclusion, I can award Dos Equis no points for the CD version and may god have mercy on its soul. However the DVD format is a slightly better experience, but still mediocre at best.

2 X's.

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