Contagion [Import]

Arena | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Inside Out Germany
• ASIN: B00007FZFK
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,646 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Witch Hunt

2. An Angel Falls

3. Painted Man

4. This Way Madness Lies [Instrumental]

5. Spectre at the Feast

6. Never Ending Night

7. Skin Game

8. Salamander

9. On the Box [Instrumental]

10. Tsunami

11. Bitter Harvest

12. The City of Lanterns

13. Riding the Tide [Instrumental]

14. Mea Culpa

15. Cutting the Cards

16. Ascension

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contagion is Contagious!!, January 22, 2004

By 

Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contagion (Audio CD)

Have you ever noticed how some bands keep getting better with each new release while others reach their zenith on the first, second or third try and then slip into that undefined area, somewhere between mediocrity and oblivion, by constantly churning out average discs at best or diminishing albums at worst.

Arena is one of the ones that get better and better, not that their previous work isn't great. The two other albums I own, Immortal and The Visitors are also excellent. This band is accomplishing what all bands would like to do, ever improving, never peaking. It's really a shame that extraordinary works in all the sub genres of Progressive Rock/Metal music get no substantial recognition while the mostly worthless so called radio friendly music receives all the kudos on the various awards shows.

What's that popular saying, which I believe was made into a Country song? Oh yeah, "Life Sucks". Country Music has a way of cutting right to the chase don't it?

Sustaining nearly as many lineup changes as one of their influences, Yes, Arena was one of the dominant neo-prog groups of the 1990s. A Quasi-supergroup, Arena featured former members of Marillion, Pendragon, IQ, and Shadowland.

Funny, If one were to ask me who my favoite British prog-bands are along with Anathema and Mostly Autumn, I would have named all the above groups except Shadowland whom I'm not familiar with. Not surprisingly, Arena's music is similar to the the members former bands and what could be better for me (and you) than a fusion of some of my favorite prog-rock bands.

Those of you who are familiar with Marillion, I.Q. and Pendragon know those bands and by description, Arena are not heavy in the least. I always thought they were a little too mellow. In fact, I would say that it is less hard than most of the popular Pop/Rock groups of Top Forty.

Arena

The current lineup of Arena, consists of Clive Nolan Mick Pointer John Mitchell Ian Salmon and Rob Snowden,

Arena was formed in 1994 by Mick Pointer, the former drummer of Marillion, and Clive Nolan, the former keyboardist of Pendragon. after about three years of musical musician chairs, guitarist John Mitchell, who instantly proved himself an able replacement. A year later after two more defections, bassist Ian Salmon and current singer, who's quite good, Rob Snowden rounded out the current lineup.

KILLER CUTS

"Witch Hunt", Never Ending Night", "Skin Game", "Salamander", "Riding the Tide", "Cutting The Cards", "Ascension"

CONCLUSION

Arena is a group that could and should have broad mass appeal since it's heritage and style are from the ever popular pioneers of British Progressive rock and even mimic somewhat, on a higher level, other very popular current British rockers, Radiohead and Coldplay.

Now some of you may have noticed that all the songs are rather short for Progressive rock songs and that is true but since this band has always been thusly categorized and since I can see no other place to put them, but you may consider them progressive alternative rock. It works for me.

The singer, Rob Snowden is excellent as are Mitchell and Nolan (Guitar and Keyboards). My version of Contagion comes in a gorgeous Triple folding digipack, which you should get if you can.

If you are a prog-rock fan, this is an essential album! If not try it anyhow. I can't recommend Contagion high enough, for any reader.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prog-Rock has never sounded finer, September 17, 2005

By 

Dan Solera (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contagion (Audio CD)

Having suffered several comparisons to Marillion's new material, Arena took their strengths and doubled their efforts with 2003's masterpiece, "Contagion". With a sound so varied and delectable that it almost hurts, the album is beautiful, lush and brilliantly well-layered.

The album begins with 45 seconds of static, mixed with audio clips of people talking and general pandemonium, before unleashing the album's heaviest piece, "Witch Hunt". Singer Rob Sowden rocks in this song by coupling both a powerful voice and high-pitched finishes. The song is mostly driven by a repeated riff that never gets tiring or old. The song's last note is the beginning of the second track, "An Angel Falls", a 73-second piece of beautiful piano and Sowden's softer side.

After two instrumentally-challenging pieces ("Painted Man" and "This Way Madness Lies"), we are treated to one of the album's gems, "Spectre at the Feast". The song's beginning combines distorted keyboards with Sowden's chilling voice, and the latter half brings in the electric guitars and a heavy bass. Then we have "Never Ending Night", which revisits the same precious melodies we heard in "An Angel Falls", but with added electric guitars, pianos and synthesized strings for an added epic punch.

From there, the album delivers a handful of interesting songs that are both progressive and eerie. "Salamander" has a bizarre piano line as a verse that leads into a pop-ish chorus and then a majestic interlude that couples the audio clips from "Witch Hunt" with a background choir. "On the Box" is one of three instrumental tracks that pits guitar against keyboard in an epic power struggle.

The last five tracks close the 16-track album on the best note possible. "The City of Lanterns" is a chilling track, led by Sowden's composed voice and a ghostly synthesized ambience, leading into "Riding the Tide", another keyboard-heavy, psychedelic and fast-paced instrumental. "Cutting the Cards" could be the album's single: powerful and catchy - a standout track among stellar compositions.

"Contagion" is not a heavy album by anyone's standards. Despite this, it retains a darkness and unsettling mood throughout many of its songs, relieved only by the mouth-watering "Spectre at the Feast" and "Cutting the Cards". It is a monumental release and a perfect buy for anyone interested in prog-rock or the softer side of prog-metal.

See also: Dream Theater - "Falling into Infinity", Spock's Beard - "V", IQ - "Dark Matter", Pain of Salvation - "The Perfect Element I"

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and different!, February 12, 2003

By 

F. Tabesh (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contagion (Audio CD)

I pre-ordered this album and got it a day before it was officially released! Just like Immortal album, it took me a while to really understand and love it. Naturally, I was expecting something like Immortal album and I was a little disappointed.
But after listening to it a few times I started to understand all the new stuff they have done in this album. All I can say is, good job guys, this album is incredibly amazing.

The songs are mostly short ranging from 2.5 to 5 or 6 minutes, no epics.
The first song is as expected, great! It has a very energizing rhythm; Mick Pointer has really done a great job, especially at the end of the song.
The second song is repeated in song number six and it has amazing lyrics. Rob Sowden's voice is just without comparison.
There are three instrumentals every single one of which is truely impressive.
From song 6 on the album seems to be introducing a new style. Song #7 is strange but very rich in terms of singing techniques and Keyboard-guitar playing. Number 8 is the most amazing song so far! Songs #11 #15 and #16 are heavenly!

Overall, don't expect long guitar solos, like the ones in moviedrom or butterfly man. But John Mitchell has performed some new techniques in his guitar playing that has added a lot to the albums integrity.
Ian Salmon's base is obviously more pronounced in this album. absolutely Great base work.
Clive Nolan has written some extraordinary songs and has played some awesome keyboard in the background. I just wish he would add some more noticeable keyboard work like he's done with Pendragon. I believe he's done a better job, in terms of keyboard work, with Pendragon's last two albums than he's done here in Contagion.
Bottom line, it is an astonishing album. Buy it, you won't regret!