ARK

This very good album is a progressive metal work made at the end of the 20th century. The lead singer is a VERY strong point on this album: despite his visceral, wild and hard rock tone, he is OUTSTANDINGLY melodic and addictive: sounding a bit like David Coverdale (Whitesnake), his voice fits VERY well with the background floating keyboards. The razor rhythmic electric guitar is not too monolithic and it is very melodic and structured. The keyboards are subtly played rather in the background during the more mellow parts of the tracks. The disciplined drums are OUTSTANDING: be prepared to hear an overdose of restless, complex and completely asynchronous toms & bass drums parts!

On "Burning down", you can hear the addictive lead vocals: around 3:30, there is an impossible part made of TONS of fast bass drums and crazy electric guitar solos: IMPRESSIVE! The track ends beautifully by putting in evidence the background floating organ through the EXCELLENT lead vocals. "Were the wind blows" is so catchy that you could easily sing the main refrain: around 2:40, the musicians show us their jazzy influence with an interesting combination of pleasant drums and electric guitar solo. On "Hunchback of Notre-Dame", the musicians really show their versatile talent: a refined flamenco Spanish guitar and some funny jazzy piano parts through metal passages confirm the HUGE talent of the band: notice the excellent "normal" voice of the lead singer! On "Singers at the World's dawn", there is often an unbelievable synchronized interlock between the drums, the bass and the electric rhythmic guitar. "Mother Love" is the most ethereal and accessible track, as reveals its epic floating keyboards and its emotive electric guitar solos: it is an excellent song full of "fast as light" bass drums: past 6:00, the EXTREMELY fast Latin part made of impossible drums and flamenco guitar is absolutely jaw-dropping. "Central avenue" is very syncopated and scattered, but the discipline and the structure involved is absolutely impressive! The very visceral vocals on "Can't let go" make this track very catchy and addictive: the song contains very good sax parts, electric guitar solos and floating keyboards that may remind you bands like Clepsydra or Riverside. The track charmingly ends with a delicate kid's voice.