Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Arena
Label: Metal Mind Productions
Release: 2016
Runtime: 110:13
Rating: 4/5
»XX« is a double live album recorded on the Polish leg of the tour celebrating the twentieth anniversary of cult British neo-prog rockers Arena. The Polish city of Katowice wasn’t picked by chance: the kind of progressive rock Arena play is especially beloved among Polish fans, as is the case with most of the heroes of neo-prog rock. The tour took place not long after the release of Arena’s eighth studio effort »The Unquiet Sky« (2015), so it’s no surprise that four pieces from that album made it into the set. Of course, plenty of favorites from earlier records by these English neo-prog monsters also found their way onto the setlist, and they’ve long been used to playing small halls like the one in Katowice.
When longtime Pendragon keyboardist Clive Nolan and founding Marillion drummer Mick Pointer started Arena in 1995, they never dreamed it would outgrow its side-project status and become one of the most respected modern prog rock bands, one that likes to mix heavy rock elements into its predominantly symphonic prog approach, which makes it popular with some prog metal fans too. Sadly, they haven’t been spared constant lineup changes, especially on vocals and bass, which Nolan wryly points out between individual »XX« performances. The gallant keyboardist is also a lot chattier than usual this time around, and even says a little something about the backstory of the evening’s most demanding performance.
From a technical standpoint, Paul Manzi is easily the best Arena singer so far, with a voice that would fit right in with prog metal and heavy metal, but most fans of these English neo-prog champions still miss the incredible charisma of his predecessor Rob Sowden, who lasted twelve years in the band. Paul sings the longtime standards superbly, as he already proved on the previous Arena live album »Arena:Live« (2013), but his interpretations usually lack a bit of the emotional fire and theatricality of his predecessor. Sowden turned every single song into an unforgettable drama, practically musical theater, while Manzi still has a little way to go to match that charisma.
The new bassist, the relatively unknown Kylan Amos, who replaced the far more famous John Jowitt on »The Unquiet Sky«, justifies the trust placed in him live too, and is equally convincing laying down bass lines on new and older material. Nolan, Pointer and guitar virtuoso John Mitchell are, as always, excellent. Overall, the band gave everything they had that night. Unfortunately, the sound mix on this recording isn’t the best compared to past Arena live albums, and the atmosphere could have been better too, as the crowd comes across as way too ‘dead’. You can tell the show was played in a hall too small for a band of Arena’s caliber, who deserve a better venue.
This double live recording opens with the »The Unquiet Sky« track »The Demon Strikes«. After a short stop at the »The Seventh Degree of Separation« (2011) standard »Rapture«, there’s a brief trip back to the »The Visitor« (1998) album. Right after that comes the peak of the whole of »XX«: the unforgettable »Immortal« (2000) super-epic »Moviedrome«, the band’s longest song to date and, according to some, also its best. Nolan introduces it as an extremely complicated piece, written in such a complex way because they never intended to play it live, but given its popularity they had no choice but to learn to play it in front of an audience too. Here Arena really shine at their best and once again prove why they’re one of the most exciting prog rock attractions live, even though their shows outside of Poland are usually dismally attended. Besides the pieces from »The Visitor«, where the phenomenal version of »The Hanging Tree«, which seems made for Manzi’s voice, deserves special mention, material from their other concept masterpiece, »Contagion« (2003), is also well represented, while »Pepper’s Ghost« (2005) gets just a single track, which is absolutely not enough. The same goes for the first two Arena albums, represented by »Solomon«, yet another cult super-epic and the second big peak of this recording, and by »Crying For Help VII«, which closes this live document in almost ideal fashion. It’s also one of the few moments when the crowd finally gets a bit more active.
»XX« is an excellent live document from the »The Unquiet Sky« tour that Arena fans won’t want to miss, a fitting tribute to the twentieth anniversary of these seasoned neo-prog veterans. It also offers a neat cross-section of their career so far, played and sung at a truly enviable level. The song selection was interesting and varied, though not a dream one, as many Arena classics are missing, led by »Jericho«, »Midas Vision«, »Medusa«, »Sirens«, »Enemy Without« and »Chosen«, but they made up for their absence with the performance of »Movidrome«. If you can look past the mediocre sound mix, the rather anemic crowd and the ugly cover (the Roman numeral XX ruining the »The Unquiet Sky« artwork) courtesy of those in charge at Metal Mind Productions, this is yet another very good live document, but one aimed first and foremost at longtime Arena fans rather than those just getting to know this criminally overlooked band.
Lineup
Paul Manzi – vocals
John Mitchell – guitar, backing vocals
Clive Nolan – keyboards, backing vocals
Kylan Amos – bass guitar
Mick Pointer – drums
Production
Karl Groom, Clive Nolan and John Mitchell
Track List
CD1:
1. The Demon Strikes
2. Rapture
3. Double Vision
4. Crack In The Ice
5. Moviedrome
6. How Did It Come to This?
7. Salamander
8. Bedlam Fayre
CD2:
1. Serenity
2. The Unquiet Sky
3. Traveller Beware
4. The City Of Lanterns
5. Riding The Tide
6. The Hanging Tree
7. The Tinder Box
8. Solomon
9. Don’t Forget To Breathe
10. Crying For Help 7
