Release date: 15.04.2019
Label: Verglas Music
Production: Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer
Length: 1:57:44
Genre: neo-progressive rock
Rating: 9/10
»Re-Visited: Live!« is the latest live document from English neo-prog heavyweights Arena, recorded in the Netherlands on their 2018 tour, the centerpiece of which was a full live run through the concept-album classic »The Visitor« (1998), along with a handful of iconic tracks from their rich back catalog. Twenty years had passed since »The Visitor« came out, so it was a great chance for this often-overlooked cult band to play the masterpiece in its entirety. It also gave their loyal fans a chance to hear a fresh live version from the newest incarnation of the band, with vocalist Paul Manzi and bassist Kylan Amos, neither of whom of course appeared on the original »The Visitor«.
Manzi, who has never tried to copy any of his predecessors, does a great job with the vocal interpretation of the »The Visitor« material, which sounds even a bit darker than usual thanks to the color of his voice. He’s also highly convincing on the more vocally demanding pieces like »The Hanging Tree«, »Enemy Without« and the title track. Both founding members, keyboardist Clive Nolan and drummer Mick Pointer, were in great spirits that night, while John Mitchell was in especially fine form with his guitar wizardry; short but exceedingly tasty solo moments are never in short supply on this recording.
The second half of the show delivered a solid selection of old and newer Arena standards. Epic, longtime classics like »Jericho«, »Solomon« and »Ascension« always impress, while with performances of newer pieces like »Poisoned«, »The Mirror Lies« and »Tinder Box« Arena once again showed that the material from the Manzi era is every bit as good as the long-time favorites. The only minus on this recording is the closing performance of the rather overrated »Crying For Help VII«, which was never among Arena’s most inspired achievements, as goes for the whole »Crying For Help« series, yet for some reason the band members have favored it for years now. The epic »Pride« (1996) classic »Sirens« would undoubtedly have been a much better way to end the show and a fitting reward for all the fans.
»Re-Visited Live!« will delight longtime Arena fans, who get to hear the whole of »The Visitor« played by the current lineup of the cult band, plus a few unforgettable classics, old and new. Apart from »Crying For Help VII«, it’s a thrilling set of performances, though there’s nothing here from the albums »Immortal?« (2000), »Pepper’s Ghost« (2004) and »The Unquiet Sky« (2014), as there simply wasn’t enough time and space for them.
Review by: Peter Podbrežnik
Track list:
CD1:
1. A Crack in the Ice
2. Pins and Needles
3. Double Vision
4. Elea
5. The Hanging Tree
6. A State of Grace
7. Blood Red Room
8. In the Blink of an Eye
9. (Don’t Forget to) Breathe
10. Serenity
11. Tears in the Rain
12. Enemy Without
CD2:
1. Poisoned
2. Jericho
3. Mirror Lies
4. Tinder Box
5. Solomon
6. Ascension
7. Crying 7
Arena:
Paul Manzi – vocals
John Mitchell – guitar, backing vocals
Clive Nolan – keyboards, backing vocals
Kylan Amos – bass guitar
Mick Pointer – drums
