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Rating: The Visitor is the third studio album by the British rock band Arena, released in 1998 with the replacement of guitarist Keith More with John Mitchell, who was relatively unknown in the progressive scene. Let's start with the premise that Arena is one of those bands that, in my opinion, has always delivered masterpieces. Just listen to their first album to realize that they are a band worth noting, primarily because of the principal mind of Clive Nolan, the author and composer of most of the lyrics and music, as well as being one of the most beloved keyboardists in the progressive scene, not to mention the keyboardist of Pendragon, another amazing band. Let's say that Arena sounds very similar, even vocally, to Fish from Marillion, and in fact, as the drummer, we see Mick Pointer, an ex-Marillion member who only played on the album "Script for a Jester's Tear." But back to the review, this album is truly a masterpiece, and you can tell from the first track to the last that you're at the beginning of a journey made of solos and drum and keyboard patterns. I want to focus on what is the gem of this album, "Serenity." Obviously, from the way the song begins, you can almost imagine that it's very Pink Floyd-esque, but that's not the case. Let's say that John Mitchell studied well at school and has learned perfectly how to create a progressive solo, truly something remarkable. This album, let's say, is quite different from the band's previous works, even in terms of sound. It's a slightly darker album and very focused on guitars, but still an excellent piece of work, and I strongly recommend it to fans of Progressive Metal.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 A Crack in the Ice (07:25)
Dead calm
Raining all over me
Too late
Sense of mortality
Dark skies
Threaten to swallow me
Down to the flame
While my flesh and my bone melt away
I defy you to stand on the crack in the ice
With the power of your hand
On the crack in the ice
Men
Raped and discarded
Are left dead
The vultures will feed on them
Lost cause
Tearing this life apart
Thrown to the flame
While my flesh and my bone melt away
I defy you to stand on the crack in the ice
With the power of your hand
On the crack in the ice
Take this moment so close to my heart
You held the white rose out
Just before we parted
Take this moment so far away in dreams
I can feel the thorns bite
But the flower died, it seems
Hold this feeling so close to my heart
You brought the passion out
Just before we parted
Hold this feeling so far away in dreams
I can feel the thorns bite
But the flower starts to bleed
I defy you to stand on the crack in the ice
With the power of your hand
On the crack in the ice
05 The Hanging Tree (07:09)
Walk along the waterfall
Watching as the world turns red
Wonder where the river flows
And the blood on the river bed
Poison lies too close to us
Reach across the salt and sand
Moving deeper into the land
Following the waterfall
Watching as the world turns green
Wonder where the river flows
The copper face remains unseen
Ignorance has failed to cleanse
Reach across the salt and sand
Moving deeper into the land
Crying as the earth cries out
Weeping as the land decays
Wonder if I could have helped
Maybe I'd have found a way
Poison lies too close to us
Reach across the salt and sand
Moving deeper into the land
Cling to the branch of a tree
That was waiting for
Something to preach
Someone to teach
The Word was the first
And the last to be heard
From the branch of the tree
It was praying for me to fall down
Climb to the top of a tree
That was waiting for
Someone to warn
A life to be torn into
Pieces of gold
For a soul to be sold
And the heart of the tree
Was crying for me to come back
Take me to the hanging tree
There's a man in the light
And he's pointing at me
Guide me to the hanging tree
It's the place that I come from
Walk along the waterline
Reach across the salt and the sand
Moving deeper into the land
Take me to the hanging tree
There's a boy in the light
And he's staring at me
Take me to the hanging tree
It's the place that I come from
Walk along the waterline
Reach across the salt and the sand
Moving deeper into the land
I'm falling.....Falling down again!
06 A State of Grace (03:26)
Thinly veiled, a cruel disguise
Vengeance lies behind these eyes
Glaring from the pulpit
As the Fallen Angels follow me
Plageristic sermons
Hiding voyeuristic undertones
Foolishly they will embrace
And ignorant they follow me
You've never truly known
The kind of place that I come from
You turned your back on all the signs
That bore the words of warning
Come to me my simple child
Tear apart your innocence
Pray with me beloved son
And I will help you find a way
Think before you throw yourself
Upon the tables and the merchant s
Are you sure this temple
Isn't just another cruel perversion?
You've never truly known
The kind of place that I come from
You turned your back on all the signs
That bore the words of warning
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Don't ask for mercy at my image or my shrine
Don't seek forgiveness at this house of mine
Don't build a temple here
And wait for me to walk into the fire
I will make this promise now
A simple thing, a sacred vow
Come with me my pretty Angel
I will show you how to fly
We will fall together
Into unforgiving night we plunge!
Chained by sin and clothed by guilt
We will be as one forever
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Don't ask for mercy at my image or my shrine
Don't look for comfort in this house of mine
Don't break the Holy bread or drink the Holy wine
Don't seek forgiveness at this house of mine
Don't build a temple here
And wait for me to walk into the fire
09 (Don't Forget to) Breathe (03:40)
Half heard cries in the night
Bolt the door, put out the light
The clock just stopped, time goes slow
Listen to my voice on the telephone
Fine prayers, sweet dreams
Don't forget to breathe, my friend
You're not the only one
To look me in the eyes again
Half heard screams in the night
The man's down deep 'cos he died of fright
There's a dog bite - Flash light
Throw him in the room with the clues and the dynamite
Fine prayers sweet dreams
Don't forget to breathe, my friend
You're not the only one
To look me in the eyes again
You saw! You saw!
A figure in the fog with razor claws
You saw! You saw!
A devil in the dark, we've met before
Fine prayers, sweet dreams
Don't forget to breathe, my friend
You're not the only one
To look me in the eyes again
Half seen shadows in the night
Burning hands and tortured sight
All the children of the storm are waiting
Half seen shadows in the night
Blood red rooms and fire light
All the children of the storm are waiting
And as you stand glued to the line
Your heart just stopped
And now you're mine!
Don't run away
12 Enemy Without (05:05)
Something on the edge of this place
Something on the edge of my mind
Getting closer to me
Growing stronger in me all the time
The young foretell a life ahead
The old look back on a life that's been led
But I - I see nothing
Got too much sand across my head
Sit there waiting for the phone to ring
Hopes in the attic, tied up with string
On a top shelf, bottom drawer
Any place I could ignore
The falling of this hero
No! Don't let the child die here
Don't let the child die here
Don't let his life just fade away
Don't let the child die....
I made a promise - my soul laid bare
Signed and sealed on a wing, on a prayer
But thrown to the darkness
It lies beyond repair
This solemn oath I swore to you
Has been neglected and unused
In a back room, not on show
Anywhere just not to know
The falling of this hero
No! Don't let the child die here
Don't let the child die here
Don't let his life just fade away
Don't let the child die....
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