TURN OF THE TIDE

I am familiar with Steve Adams' and Merrill Hale's work. Both are very accomplished musicians in the Portland, Oregon Metro area. Turn of the Tide is an album that requires more than one listening. It is not your background housecleaning music. Overall it is a beautiful representation of the "rites of passage" one discovers and enters while on this road we call life. It captures the tenacity of honor, vision, conviction, purpose, and yearnings with a heavy dose of justice. The voicings of guitar, vocals, drums and textures invite me to peek into someone's "movie". It is there I am able to reflect on my own life and its archetypes all the while rendered masterfully. Open minded interaction is paramount or you will miss the nuances.

I hear the musical influences of: Yes (especially their earlier works), Alice Cooper (ballads and storytelling), Moody Blues (for their journeying), Queen (for their convictions and anthem)...add a little dash of World Music from India, Asia, Ireland and Persia while combining Jazz infused Classical and you can kind of feel those places. The experimental rock approach to these voicings definitely classifies ARZ entirely on its own. It is an Epic Experience only The ARZ Universe can produce.

The website gives you glimpses of Steve and Merrill's brilliance. The Artwork done by Merrill Hale is splendid. Their work is very visual, not only in the packaging, but the music as well. Each Rune takes you to a new place with a new feeling to be felt or discovered. It is obvious the labor intensive work makes this from an artist's sense, museum quality.

My favorite is Twilight, though I love Shadow on the Wall, My Friend, and Lost Lake. I love the conviction of Birth of a Hero and My Friend's lyrics. The entire album with it's gorgeous guitar work, keys, drums and textures brings the listener full circle. The Tide Has Turned is an adventure all on its own depicting the internal battles one goes through when going through a rite of passage. I get the authenticity of agony, sorrow, venegance, promises, oaths, honor and resolve.

I highly recommend this album to anyone who loves a story, who loves masterful musicians, loves experimental sounds and for the passionate. For a Progressive Rocker, this is a must have.