THE UNQUIET SKY

I picked this album up when I went to the first gig on Arena's 2015 tour. I had enjoyed "The 7th Degree of Separation", but I didn't think it matched the rich vein of form the band struck starting with "The Visitor" and ending with "Contagion". "The 7th Degree of Separation" brought the guitars to the front of the band's sound, which I think resulted in a loss of balance - I am pleased to report that "The Unquiet Sky" has brought things back. The opening track "The Demon Strkes" starts with an orchestral type of riff that sounds a bit like the soundtrack to "Night of the Demon", the movie the album takes much of its concept from, and breaks into a great track that sets the scene very well for the album with threatening ghostly sounds floating around the track. The second track, "How Did It Come to This?" is for me the stand-out track on the album. It is quite simply gorgeous, with an excellent almost longing vocal from Paul Manzi and a superb solo from John Mitchell. The album then dips a little as it continues the story; "The Bishop of Lufford" has a nice hook, but I found the next 3 tracks atmospheric but not particularly exciting. However, the album then kicks up a gear as it enters the second half, with "The Unquiet Sky" leading a great sequence of tracks that gradually build towards the end of the story - I get the impression that Clive Nolan really enjoyed writing this, and his keyboards certainly jump out a lot more, with sterling service in "What Happened Before" and "Time Runs Out" and a great keyboard/guitar combo on "Returning the Curse". The last 2 tracks finish off the album in fine style, with "The Unexpected Dawn" reflecting wistfully on the story, and "Traveller Beware!" bursting into a sharp, driving rhythm with a ripping guitar solo, a quieter middle section and a great crescendo to complete a very good album.

Definitely worth buying this one when it is released - just be careful not to accept a strange piece of paper with seven mysterious symbols written on it.....