THE THEORY OF MOLECULAR INHERITANCE

After three disappointing albums with singer Paul Manzi, Arena, in my opinion, had reached a somewhat stagnant point in their career. The golden era with Rob Sowden was behind them, and it didn't seem like things were going to get better.

However, 'The Theory of Molecular Inheritance' was released in 2022 to reignite hope for the band's fans!

Thanks to the addition of an exceptional singer with a unique voice, Damian Wilson, known primarily for his work with Threshold, Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer have produced a series of exceptionally high-quality songs, pure neo-prog of the finest vintage, which will delight lovers of this sub-genre.

The only downsides to note might be the abundance of mid-tempo and introspective songs, which occasionally slow down the album's pace. However, this is offset by Wilson's superb performance and the excellent instrumental work, with Nolan and Mitchell shining as always, perfect on their respective instruments.

So, if like me, you thought Arena was finished, I urge you to listen to this album, which undoubtedly returns them to the neo-prog Olympus, where they should never have left. Just typical Arena in their finest fort. Nothing more, nothing less!

Top tracks: The Equation (one of the songs that leaves the best impression on the first listen), Field of Sinners (reminiscent of some of the best moments of the excellent Pepper's Ghost), Pure of Heart (a tremendous chorus, with a vibrant Damian Wilson), Integration (the track where Nolan shines most intensely), and Under the Microscope (Mitchell's final solo might be the best of his entire career).

My Rating: ****