PEPPER'S GHOST

Pepper's Ghost is the 6th studio album by Arena and 3rd and final (unfortunately) with vocalist Rob Sowden... as per what I've read tells the story of five heroes in 19th century London, who fight crime and, ultimately, defeat a demon. They are an exorcist, a ninja, a scientist who travels through time, a count and a cowboy with Indian ways... obviously all lyrics written by genius Clive Nolan, no surprises there. The surprise for me comes in the reviews that are usually very negative and opposed to my experience, this is by far the heaviest Arena album and that is clearly established with the opening track Bedlam Fayre which immediately immerses the listener into frantic Pointer's galloping and Nolan's furious key playing, heavy riffs and tight bass playing.

Smoke and mirrors follow settling a more Arena-known sound and song structure, Snowden's singing is definitely at its best and Mitchell starts with his tasty guitar licks that will from now on and until the end of the record fight for relevance with Nolan's exquisite and magical playing, like a melodic war that never ends and with no specific winner. The Shattered room begins with the classic atmospheric sound that could easily be part of the previously positive appraised Contagion, only a little bit heavier and darker and with a new twist on the guitar playing by Michell, almost too pop-like for the band but never departing from the overall heaviness of the song, Nolan again brings everything together leading the rhythmic section to open doors for Michell's exquisite soloing, all work of genius and experimented musicians. 9 plus minutes of epic music presented in two rhythmically different episodes divided by classic instrumental atmospheric interlude, bravo!