THE VISITOR

What more can I add to what Bob, James, Greger, Greenback and others have already said so well? This album is certainly ARENA's all-time classic. In all my years as a music lover, never have I heard such a clever and successful blend of lush, melodious songwriting with such solid, tight, gripping rock. As some critic once wrote, "each note, or sequence of notes, gives rise to an emotional, almost physical response".

With its bluesy, floydian choruses, its gorgeous melodies, the way each musical phrase (some of them simply to die for) blends into the next, right down to vocalist PAUL WRIGHTSON's awsome delivery, "The Visitor" is sublime from beginning to end. Describing each track individually won't even remotely do justice to this masterpiece. It comprises everything that is good about ARENA - and about prog, for that matter. It is perfect in every detail and a true progger's dream. The type of mind-blowing, shiver-inducing, spine-tingling thrill you hope for every time you tear up that plastic seal on a brand new CD. I'm really at a loss for words, here. Let me just say that it ranks second only to my all-time favourite, GENESIS' very own "Selling England by the Pound". Brilliant, with goosebumps guaranteed on every track!!!