Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Arena
Label: Verglas Records
Release: 1999
Rating: 3.5/5
In 1999, British neo-prog champions Arena went through yet another dramatic shake-up in the singer and bass slots. While bassist Ian Salmon was already a well-known, battle-tested name among all connoisseurs of ‘proto-Arena’ band Shadowland, fans knew practically nothing about new singer Rob Sowden, who had the very tough job of stepping in for the hugely charismatic and beloved Paul Wrightson. Well, Rob soon proved himself the near-perfect vocal successor, and today Arena diehards, even after his departure in 2010, rate him no less than his predecessor. »The Visitor (Revisited)«, home to the first official recordings with Rob on vocals, made before his first Arena studio album »Immortal?« (2000), is a rather misleading title for a very interesting collection of acoustic versions of a few beloved Arena standards, plus some selected live recordings, because it is in no way a special re-release of their masterpiece »The Visitor« (1998).
The first five tracks with the fresh-faced Rob on vocals come from an acoustic set that the new singer used to warm up successfully for the bigger things ahead, backed by piano from the brilliant keyboardist and band patriarch Clive Nolan (Pendragon, ex-Shadowland) and acoustic guitar from guitar virtuoso John Mitchell (It Bites). Mr. Sowden already wins you over with his charisma and wide range of vocal skills on »Medusa«, the anthem from »The Pride« (1996), and he’s no less convincing on the medley of acoustically reworked »The Visitor« standards like »Pins And Needles«, »(Don’t Forget To) Breathe« and »Tears In the Rain«. And on the moving power ballad »Crying For Help IV« he finally proved that he’s made of the ‘right stuff’ and that he’d earn his place in fans’ hearts not just as a successful Wrightson replacement, but as the central voice of probably the most successful and beloved era in the band’s story.
The second half of this fun compilation is a set of five tracks played during Arena’s show in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, recorded by the earlier lineup with Wrightson on vocals and John Jowitt (ex-IQ, Jadis) on bass. It’s definitely fascinating to hear how the material from the cult concept masterpiece »The Visitor« sounded live with the singer who sang the studio versions. That these virtuoso heavyweights from the ‘dark side’ of neo prog rock never kid around when sonic perfection is called for is proven already by the superb version of the classic »Double Vision«, while on »Elea«, which Paul introduces in a deeply theatrical manner in the style of a Peter Gabriel (ex-Genesis), the way they nail the orchestral-leaning opening section is especially thrilling.
One of the main reasons, if not the main reason, this release deserves its place in the collection of every loyal Arena fan is the fantastic performances of the next three epic classics. They play the unforgettable, melodramatic Victorian epic »The Hanging Tree« in such a heartfelt, theatrical and subtle way that the concert atmosphere can be compared even to the best stage moments of classic Genesis or Fish-era Marillion (these two legendary bands get a mention because they were among the key influences on the Arena sound).
They return to the debut »Songs From The Lions Cage« with great success via the rousing evergreen »Jericho«, where the backing vocal harmonies from Nolan and Mitchell come off especially well this time, while the high point, as expected, is the epic chorus, which still stands as one of the best chapters in Arena’s body of work to date. And no self-respecting Arena gig can go without the epic journey through the dark meanders of the human psyche titled »Solomon«, where the crowd once again breathes as one with a band that, once again, doesn’t hold back on complex improvisations while faithfully keeping up the melodic passages and lavish symphonic arrangements.
Right at the end of »The Visitor (Revisited)« sits a demo version of the »The Visitor« classic »Enemy Without« with Nolan on lead vocals, somewhat different, unfinished lyrics, funkier-sounding bass lines and noticeably lighter symphonic arrangements. Clive proves once again that he’s a good stand-in singer, while at the demo stage of this future evergreen they were still waiting for Wrightson to lay down his part, which will only surprise those who don’t know his Shadowland legacy. Maybe it’s precisely this highly entertaining demo of »Enemy Without« that’s ‘to blame’ for the unfortunate title of this album.
»The Visitor (Revisited)« isn’t what you’d think of right away when you read its title, but it’s such an interesting mix of acoustic versions of a few classics and selected live tracks that it earns its spot in the collection of every loyal Arena fan. This release certainly lost some of its charm soon after Rob Sowden became inseparable from the band’s later creative adventures, since its main purpose was to introduce the new singer. Even so, it’s a lovely bridge between two eras in the story of this splendid progressive rock band, who, for many reasons, are interesting to plenty of prog metal fans too.
Lineup
Tracks 1-5:
Clive Nolan – piano
John Mitchell – guitar
Rob Sowden – vocals
Tracks 6-10:
Clive Nolan – keyboards
Mick Pointer – drums
Paul Wrightson – vocals
John Mitchell – guitar
John Jowitt – bass guitar
Track 11:
Clive Nolan – vocals and keyboards
Mick Pointer – drums
John Mitchell – guitar
John Jowitt – bass guitar
Production
Clive Nolan
Track list
Acoustic session
1. Medusa
2. Pins And Needles
3. (Don’t Forget To) Breathe
4. Tears In The Rain
5. Crying For Help IV
Live in Paradiso, Amsterdam
6. Double Vision
7. Elea
8. The Hanging Tree
9. Jericho
10. Solomon
Demo
11. Enemy Without
