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progbethyname View Drop Down
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2015 at 23:47
Originally posted by dr wu23 dr wu23 wrote:

Well....I'm a fan of some neo prog....really like IQ for  instance , but I only have Contagion and Pepper's Ghost by Arena. While I find them interesting I still haven't become a big fan.
Which is better: The Visitor or Immortal..?


These are 2 quality albums. I find neither to be more favorable than the other because they are very different and don't have the same vocalists.
The visitor is an amazing, tightly knit conceptual album while Immortal offers a great deal of diversity.
If you want a soaring epic, Moviedrome. If you want a dark, moody yet classically romantic track , you get 'Fridays dream. '
I'd say if I would offer immortal first before the visitor to you. Immortal really showcases what Arena can do.
I love its diversity that's intertwined with some extremely dark subject matter.
On all accounts though, Arena have not one weak album in their entire discography.
Just plunge right in!
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2015 at 23:53
Originally posted by geekfreak geekfreak wrote:


well here`s someone whom as NEVER listened to Arena at ALL. so ladies and gentlemen where should I start the magical journey into Arena...


For diversity.

In order.

Pride
Immortal
The unquiet sky.
The visitor.

Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 03 2016 at 21:13
Arena: The Unquiet Sky.

2015's album of the year for me and my runner up wasn't even close. ;)
This album slaughtered the competition. Top honors. ;)
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Points: 356 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2016 at 22:01
I've recently bought The Visitor and I think it's great. I also own the band's first two albums and prefer Arena's 90s albums to what Marillion were doing at the time. Yes, I've listened to Brave, but I prefer The Visitor as a 'dark concept album'.
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Points: 7951 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 19 2016 at 18:42
Look what new upcoming live DVD just showed up on the main page of the Archives!



http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=51233

Seems like they’ll be playing a large chunk of `The Unquiet Sky’ on it as well (heh, they should gone `full-prog’ and played the entire thing in the proper order!).

Anyway, looks like Christmas just came early! I would have too, if this was getting a Bluray edition!

Very well, the DVD will have to suffice!
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Points: 10279 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 19 2016 at 19:11
Great news indeed. What an ugly cover though with the giant "XX"
The setlist seems very similar to the concert I saw. I bet more than 20 attended the concert they recorded in Poland, though
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Points: 7951 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 19 2016 at 19:18
It's lazy cover artwork, for sure, but then the previous live DVD skimped on new art and had the same image from the front of the `Seventh Degree of Seperation' studio disc as well!

This will definitely be an early highlight of 2015, though, can't wait!
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 27 2016 at 19:01
I'm very excited. I hope there is a blu ray edition. I'll be all over that.

I just am so looking forward to hearing some of the Unquiet sky album performed live right in my living room. :)

I'm really into concert DVDs lately with 5.1 surround sound codecs, so this is perfect timing.

A must have for me in 2016! I believe February 12th is the release date. :)
Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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Points: 5409 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 28 2016 at 04:07
Originally posted by progbethyname progbethyname wrote:

I'm very excited. I hope there is a blu ray edition. I'll be all over that.

I just am so looking forward to hearing some of the Unquiet sky album performed live right in my living room. :)

I'm really into concert DVDs lately with 5.1 surround sound codecs, so this is perfect timing.

A must have for me in 2016! I believe February 12th is the release date. :)


I would be surprised that they release a Blu-Ray later. And don't expect something spectacular with Metal Mind as far as the surround sound mix, it would be a ambiance surround sound.
Music is the refuge of souls ulcerated by happiness.

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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 29 2016 at 15:19
Originally posted by rdtprog rdtprog wrote:

Originally posted by progbethyname progbethyname wrote:

I'm very excited. I hope there is a blu ray edition. I'll be all over that.

I just am so looking forward to hearing some of the Unquiet sky album performed live right in my living room. :)

I'm really into concert DVDs lately with 5.1 surround sound codecs, so this is perfect timing.

A must have for me in 2016! I believe February 12th is the release date. :)


I would be surprised that they release a Blu-Ray later. And don't expect something spectacular with Metal Mind as far as the surround sound mix, it would be a ambiance surround sound.


Actually, that's pretty fair to say. Piotr Brezenski kind of blew it on the RAPTURE DVD audio engineering. I found the sound to be quite thin compared many others I've enjoyed.
I hope it's better. But yeah, good point. Metal mind need to clean up their act.

Sadly, I bet there won't be a blu ray edition. Standard DVD still in 2016? Come one.
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 10 2016 at 14:56
Giving Immortal and The Visitor some attention this week.
2 of Arena's very best!!
I hope many are still appreciating this incredible band.
8 albums (studio) and NOT a one is lousy or mediocre.

I just wish some of their live album A&R could be immensely better.
Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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Points: 7951 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 10 2016 at 17:26
Nick, I came across four of their albums - `Pepper's Ghost', `Immortal', `Contagion' (a digipack version) and `Pride' - traded in at a second hand store down my way, it was a bit heartbreaking. I mean, if I didn't already have them I would have probably climaxed there on the spot and snapped them up in an instant!

But as opposed to usually spending an hour going through every CD in the store and maybe - MAYBE - coming across one or two prog related albums, I actually discovered on this most recent trip that someone seemed to have purged a complete collection of prog/kraut/psych/electronic discs....good for me to fill in a few gaps in my collection, but sad that someone decided to get rid of them.

I did tip off a friend about the Arena's, though, he went back and bought a few of them!

Oh, and I don't think the latest Arena live disc would have been any good on Bluray. The picture is blurry, murky and dark, and no matter how much you coat a turd in gold, underneath it's still a turd! The previous one from the `Separation' tour looked a lot fancier.
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Points: 10279 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2017 at 09:21
They just announced the title of their upcoming album, "Double Vision". There will be concerts next year, where they'll promote the new album and play the whole "The Visitor" album for its 20th anniversary.
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Points: 850 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2017 at 09:57
Got to be a Visitor sequel then, I'm guessing.

Edited by RoeDent - July 31 2017 at 09:59
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Points: 7951 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2017 at 10:12
Wonderful and unexpected news, Sam! I thought a new Arena (and/or Pendragon) album was a long way off considering how devoted Clive Nolan is to his next prog-musical - seriously my most anticipated release of the year!

Paul Manzi is still doing the vocals?
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2017 at 08:36
Michael! Manzi sure is still the force behind the mic. :)
Wow! I just got the update now from their website. Yup. I am vey shocked. I didn't think we would be hearing from ARENA for another 3 years at least!
Double vision? Yeah that does sound like a Visitor sequel, and why not? The Visitor' has to be one of their most complete albums to date. It's boarder line perfect to me.

Thanks to you Sam as well for the update.

We are spoiled proggers!

I hope to see Arena in Montreal if they tour their during the 2018 shows.

Great news! My most anticipated release as well. :)

If they release a DVD, for god sakes let's hope for a blu ray. Jeeeeze! Lol
Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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Points: 10279 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2017 at 09:04
I was quite surprised as well, not long ago Nolan said he started working on a new Arena album and all of a sudden we get all this!? I hope he put some serious thought in it, although even if it's half as good as "The Unquiet Sky", we're in for a treat :)
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2017 at 10:09
Hey Sam. I think there is such a strong connection between quality and Mr. Nolan. Arena is one of the very few bands on planet earth where I can say all their studio albums are real gems and essentials to buy. Their live albums/DVDs need some help here and there, but anyway I just don't see ARENA blowing it on album number 9. I think will be great and it will be so interesting to have another area album just 3 years apart.

You can bet I am very happy and excited for this news.
Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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Points: 13803 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 01 2017 at 12:35
Autobuy, and really looking forward to some new Arena
Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org

Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!
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Points: 7868 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 02 2017 at 07:29
^ right you are, Mr. Laz...right you are.

I've already muttered under my breath about a million times, " Just take my money...take it."



Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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