CONTAGION

Ah, Contagion - less an album, more a cauldron of hot, spicy guitar riffs and keyboard solos. The short tracks make it more digestible than Pepper's Ghost or Immortal?, but this format may not be so friendly with all proggers. Down to business...

1. Witch hunt (4:17) - Odd crowd noises quietly lead up to a devastatingly simple opening riff. Great chorus and guitar solo.

2. An angel falls (1:13) - A tranquil piano and vocal duet, blending from Witch Hunt to Painted Man seamlessly. A good track.

3. Painted man (4:41) - Slightly off-lyrics, but this is made up for in the instrumental areas of this track, especially the ending.

4. This way madness lies (3:35) - An instrumental, with very prominent bass in parts - pure excellence. Above this, the guitar solos reign supreme. A good finish to the first few tracks.

5. Spectre at the feast (5:34) - Very atmospheric. Good singing here, too, with a slow build up to the ending. Guitar and bass are great too.

6. Never ending night (3:23) - A quite ballad, with solo. Compare it to Tears on The Visitor. Shorter, not as good, but still a good listen.

7. Skin game (4:43) - A good start and an epic finish. Awe inspiring vocals towards the end with excellent riffs that break into acoustic versions of the same riff as an ending - if it doesn't immediately grab you, there's something wrong.

8. Salamander (3:59) - Opening with keyboard, this one is fairly good, nice chorus and guitar solo/keyboard solo. This seamlessly blends into...

9. On the box (2:40) - And odd instrumental - the voices from the start of the album return at the start over the top of a guitar riff. This follows with a keyboard solo, plus guitar for good measure. At the end it fades out into the sound of Morse code which goes straight to...

10. Tsunami (2:38) - Nothing awfully significant here. The bass is quite prominent with a good riff but otherwise it's just vocal.

11. Bitter harvest (2:52) - A mini-epic, if there ever was such a thing. Starts quiet, then explodes and has a great ending, espeically the vocals.

12. The city of lanterns (1:22) - Atmospheric vocal solo here, with a few synthesized sounds below. Serves a good intro to...

13. Riding the tide (4:28) - basically, just a keyboard solo, and one of the best I've heard. Takes a while to get into, but when it sticks, you can't but help air-keyboarding along. The ending is excellently done.

14. Mea culpa (3:46) - A quiet ballad, odd name aside, it's beautiful. Just a piano and the vocalist. The central climax is the best bit ...but only find despising gazes...

15. Cutting the cards (4:57) - This exactly how to bring a concept album back from a calm ballad. Opens with an acoustic guitar, with then bursts into an energetic riff, and finally the guitars join, after we hear the brilliant chorus. The guitar effects here are very effective in their places.

16. Ascension (4:34) - The finale. Mainly loud, but quite bits towards the start, building to a finish. I'm learning to fly... excellent vocals at the finale, as well as guitar and powerful keyboard chords. Sadly, it fades out. :/

It could have been improved if the tracks were as whole sections, if you ask me, as that gives it a much more progressive feeling, but regardless, the tracks themselves are great. Highlights are Witch Hunt, Spectre, Skin Game, and from Riding The Tide to Ascension. Recommended for all Arena fans.

Just don't ask me to choose between Contagion and The Visitor...