ARENA: Song from the lions cage CD 1995. Fully Signed / Autographed! Grandiose progressive rock. Pendragon, Marillion (members & sound). Check all samples

Description

1995 is the year it all begins. The first album of Arena was released, featuring Clive Nolan (keyboards) and Mick Pointer (drums), with Cliff Orsi (bass), Keith More (guitar) and John Carson (vocals). This excellent piece of work released on Arena’s own ‘Verglas’ label, is very well received and a new progressive rock legend has been born.  A few critics react by saying that Arena clearly reflects shades of a Fish-era-Marillion, with Mick (ex-Marillion) on drums and a vocalist whose voice resembles elements of Fish’s voice. However, the music is vibrant and fresh, and the album contains instant classics like Jericho, the epic Solomon and the emotional Crying For Help IV. Typical for the album are the short instrumental interludes (the Crying For Help-series) that separate the non-instrumental tracks: a format that returns on their next album.

SAMPLES:  http://picosong.com/vdiY   or  https://clyp.it/lsur3ujn?token=441785c6cb4ed3e33ae605e2131ba336

Track listing:
All songs by Clive Nolan & Mick Pointer
“Out of the Wilderness” – 8:02
“Crying for Help I” – 1:22
“Valley of the Kings” – 10:10
“Crying for Help II” – 3:08
“Jericho” – 6:50
“Crying for Help III” – 4:24
“Midas Vision” – 4:36
“Crying for Help IV” – 5:05
“Solomon” – 14:37

Personnel:
Clive Nolan – Keyboards
Mick Pointer – Drums
John Carson – Vocals
Keith More – Guitars
Cliff Orsi – Bass
Released in 1995  .  Produced by Mike Stobbie   .   Engineered by Clive Nolan.   Mixed by Teo Miller
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Chris Blair

Songs from the Lions Cage is the début album of British Progressive rock group Arena, released on July 25, 1995. This is the only Arena album to feature vocalist John Carson and bassist Cliff Orsi.
With all the grandiose trademarks of a progressive rock album, Songs From the Lions Cage is fulfilling and appealing, offering both slicing guitar work via Keith More and soaring keyboards from Clive Nolan of Pendragon. On drums, Mick Pointer of Marillion fame is well heard in full bluster from start to finish. “Crying for Help One” as well as part two and three echo with gorgeous acoustic guitar and mesmerizing synthesizer. Even though this is a concept album, its not hard to get lost in all the breathtaking overlays of instrumentation, thus placing the conceptual aspect to the back of your mind and bringing the music to the forefront. Vocalist John Carson, who sounds an awful lot like Fish, comes through as an explosive and passionate singer. Each song has a different pace and aura, and while there are a couple of longer songs on the album clocking in at around ten minutes each, there is never a dull moment. Great production surrounds this CD as well, giving it a crisp, firm sound.

5.0 out of 5 stars Music as good as old Marillion,
This fantastic album is much like the kind of music as performed by early Marillion (with Fish). If you like(d) old Marillion, you’ll love this, too. No wonder, as Arena is founded by Mick Pointer, well known as Drummer of early Marillion!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great concept album; much like Marillion / early Genesis,
This is a wonderful concept album. The music is very similar to early Genesis and Marillion. The music is very melodic and the vocals are very emotional.
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5.0 out of 5 stars excellent debut CD,
A very good debut CD from a progressive rock band, with all the ingredients, offbeat drumming, synthesizers, harmonic guitars, and unusual lyrics, and having a couple of long developing songs.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Pre-John Mitchell Gem,
This is one of those rare finds that can play over and over, and never gets old. The masterpiece solomon’ has an interplay between keyboards and guitar that is breathtaking! When this song kicks in you do not want to be driving down the highway. The mixing of soft acoustic guitar with soaring lead guitar, keyboards, mellotrons playing in the backround make this my favorite Arena album, and I own everthing they have released. There is just an epic sound, to this work, with songs that build and build until you get to Solomon which is a perfect ending!