Post Description

ARZ - Turn Of The Tide  

Country of Origin: U.S.A. 
Format: CD 
Record Label: Unicorn Digital 
Cat.No.: UNCR-5077 
Year of Release: 2012 
Time: 74:55 
Info: ARZ 
Samples: Click Here 
 
Tracklist: Arz Nova (1:27), Birth Of A Hero (8:22), Shadow On The Wall (6:37), Hope And Glory (16:40), My Friend (6:43), To The Better Man (6:55), Turn Of The Tide (12:57), Lost Lake (3:43), Twilight (11:28) 

ARZ are a progressive rock duo from Portland Oregon, namely Steve Adams (guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals) and Merill Hale (drums, percussion), who first played together in a Yes tribute band called All Good People. Turn Of The Tide is the fifth album to be released under the ARZ name, although the first three, Serai, The Magi, and The Last Kingdom (we dropped the bat and missed reviewing that one!) were solo works by Adams with Hale coming on board for two of the tracks on the last album Solomon's Key back in 2009. Since then, the duo have signed to Canadian label Unicorn Digital with the new album being the first to feature vocals and a return to the more melodic and symphonic style that was slightly deviated from on the heavier, more metal inclined Solomon's Key. 

The addition of vocals adds a new dimension to the music with Adams having a voice that at times sounds rather like Echolyn's Ray Weston, particularly on Shadow On The Wall which would fit well amongst an Echolyn set list! Hale is an impressive drummer, particularly on the longer numbers - Hope And Glory for instance has Hale driving things along at a frantic pace, even though some of the vocal sections are delivered at a completely different, more relaxed, time signature. The style of the writing on this track shows the pair's early fondness for Yes and ELP, not that the song sounds much like either of those bands (although the timpani is a definite nod to Carl Palmer), it is the scope and style of the pieces that draw the comparisons to mind. Hard to explain but listen and I'm sure you'll see my point! Adams still likes to deliver the goods on his guitar, dashing off solos like there is no tomorrow and he does seem to have developed and delivered more of his own sound on this album while not displaying his influences so overtly on his sleeve. 

A more mellow approach is taken with My Friend although perhaps a simpler approach to the drumming could have been taken as at times the percussive elements can overpower the more gentle nature of the song. No such complaints with To The Better Man, favourite track on the album for me. A marvellous song containing a dash of early Rush, a lovely melodic chorus and some stylish playing from both musicians. Whereas Hope And Glory and to an extent To The Better Man showcase the heavier side of ARZ's musical approach, the two other long-form compositions contain extra layers of subtlety and are more akin to the epic prog of bygone days. The title track, Turn Of The Tide, has a lengthy keyboard introduction prior to a couple of Steve Howe-ish sounding pedal steel swoops taking things into a louder section. The mixing of moods throughout the rest of the track again displays some Yes-like elements, although nothing too overt. Final track Twilight is again prefaced by a lengthy keyboard introduction with drum rolls pushed right back to sound like distant thunder that evokes an atmosphere that is maintained throughout the whole eleven and a half minutes of the suitably epic and comparatively gentle piece whose strength lies in its relative simplicity, and further reference to Yes-style atmospherics, no bad thing in my book. Oh, if one assumes that Adams is only interested in the electric guitar then take heed of Lost Lake, a lovely acoustic instrumental which would simply be very lazy reviewing to compare with Steve Hackett (but hey, I just did!). 

The deal with Unicorn Digital has meant that there is a budget for art work which the band has put to good use with a stunning sleeve (although most likely generated on a computer I retain the right to hold out hope that it has been lovingly carved into an ancient and well matured piece of timber) and a booklet with some great photographic images to accompany the lyrics. Turn Of The Tide holds up well with previous releases and in certain aspects surpasses them. Definitely worthy of attention. 

Bron: DPRP