Unlocking The Cage

I had been eagerly awaiting this package to arrive; the package containing a copy of our new fanclub CD that is! And after listening to it, my high expectations proved to be justified. Being active in The Cage, I am a bit biased, of course, but most fans will agree with me that this collection of rarities is a must-have. Here follows a track-by-track review.

The CD opens very aptly with Enter, the intro track that was used during the Immortal? Tour and which is an extended version of the intro of Moviedrome. It has a very menacing atmosphere and it sounds very impressive and big, due to the sound effects and the pumping heartbeat. Like the beginning of a movie… Tension builds and reminds of the excitement that could be felt in the audience during the Immortal? shows just before the band entered the stage.

Then the listener is aroused by the heavy opening tones of Valley Of The Kings with which the track dubbed Encore Track begins. It’s a medley of Songs… and Pride-tracks and was played during the Cage fanmeeting at the Tivoli in Holland in 1999. This is a studio rehearsal and it sounds raw and unpolished, but at the same time very powerful. Parts of Empire Of A Thousand Days and Fool’s Gold flash by and the song ends with the majestic end section of Out Of The Wilderness. A very interesting track indeed.

The next two tracks were recorded during the only live appearance of Arena in the line up with John Carson. Arena performed an acoustic set during the fanmeeting of The Web Holland in 1995. The first song is Crying For Help IV and sounds beautiful. John really has a wonderful voice. Keith Moore gives an acoustic interpretation of the song’s guitar solo. Great!

The next song is Jericho and again I’m impressed by John’s voice. In the second up-tempo part his vocals are on the edge though. But, then again, I think it’s reasonable to state that this is one of the most impossible vocal lines ever written. I wonder whether there exists a ‘ghost track’ of this song; I’d really like to hear Clive cope with the extremely difficult melody he has burdened three subsequent Arena singers with.

The next track is actually a ghost track, but from The Visitor sessions, just like Enemy Without on The Visitor Revisited. This is the title track of The Visitor and although these ghost tracks were primarily intended to convey Clive’s idea of the vocal lines, it’s the full version, right up to the great guitar solo and the funny beep at the end.

Next is Friday’s Dream. This is a recording from the acoustic after party gig in Rijssen, Holland, during the Immortal? Tour. This is really a beautiful version. Rob’s vocals are simply stunning. Powerful, yet subtle, much expression – he has the leading role, while John and Clive provide the solid basis for this intimate version of this great song.

The next two tracks are also acoustic, but are studio recordings and feature a different vocalist: Paul Wrightson. The tracks are reminiscent of the acoustic tracks on The Visitor Revisited, but at the same time Paul’s vocals make them completely different. A State Of Grace is the first of the two. I immediately see Paul standing on the pulpit, casting a menacing glance over the audience. 
Next is Tears In The Rain and here Paul’s vocals are tender, almost fragile. The harmony vocals in the second half are powerful as always. I don’t hesitate to say that this is the most beautiful version I’ve ever heard.

This journey through time ends with (Don’t Forget To) Breathe, a live recording from the Immortal? Tour, which will not be included on the forthcoming live album Breakfast In Biarritz. This is the version with the extended intro, designed to enable Rob to change costumes. The intro features some great guitar playing by John and also Ian’s bass playing really stands out. Rob’s interpretation of the vampire sounds ominous to say the least. The pumping ending of this song acknowledges the vibrant energy Arena display on stage. 

Spanning Arena’s entire career and including all line-ups (the only band member who does not feature on this album is Cliff Orsi), this CD provides an excellent overview and documents Arena’s achievements so far very well. Furthermore, it’s a collection of exclusive material, which has not been released generally. The booklet contains extensive sleeve notes by Clive and the artwork is done by Mattias Norén, who has really outdone himself. It shows many tokens of the five years of the Arena and Cage history, some of them so minute that they require a magnifying glass to be seen (try it, it’s worthwhile!).

Tracklist

1. Enter (2000) 
Moviedrome intro – 4:23

2. Encore Track (1999) 
studio rehearsal – 7:10

3. Crying For Help IV (1995) 
live acoustic – 5:18

4. Jericho (1995) 
live acoustic – 7:27

5. The Visitor (1998) 
ghost track – 6:10

6. Friday’s Dream (2000) 
live acoustic – 4:49

7. A State Of Grace (1998) 
acoustic – 3:06

8. Tears In The Rain (1998)
acoustic – 3:59

9. (Don’t Forget To) Breathe (2000)
live – 5:51

By: Erik Beers