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Review:
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I follow this Japanese formation from the very first
moment after they launched their debut album entitled Fear
& Anxiety in 1992. And how thrilled I was when I witnessed
a gig during their mini-European tour (thanks to Musea and
Harmonie), I enjoyed their keyboard drenched symphonic rock,
inspired by ELP, Trace and UK. After all those years Ars
Nova still makes symphonic rock but their sound has evaluated.
First the ELP, Trace and UK hints are less obvious and second
the band uses guitarists with a heavy sound on their latest
albums, on Seventh Hell these are Zoltan Fabian (known from
Nemesis) and Satoshi Handa. The theme on this CD is surrealism,
the five compositions are based upon paintings by famous
artists like Hieronymus Bosch, Magritte and Dali. I love
those painters so I was very curious how Ars Nova would
sound after their pleasant but a bit ‘cold sounding’ previous
effort Crysalis – Force The Fourth.
Well, I am sure the surrealistics have inspired Ars
Nova, their fantasy and subconciousness have been stimulated
very positively! Ars Nova sounds very tight and driven,
the fans of ultimate bombastic symphonic rock will enjoy
the mindblowing interplay, the cascades of shifting moods,
the frequent solos on keyboards and guitar and the many
interesting musical ideas in the five compositions: dreamy
waves of violin-Mellotron and wonderful Grand piano along
blistering guitar, dazzling keyboard flights and a swirling
rhythm-section in the long opener Seventh Hell, from orchestral
keyboards and biting guitar tot a virtuosic acoustic guitar
solo in La Venus Endormie, a surprising break with Spanish
guitar and castagnettes in Cazadora De Astros and muddy
fat guitar riffs with propulsive drums, fiery guitar and
a very pleasant keyboard sound in Voice Of Wind. But the
total excitement is reached in the epic final track entitled
Salvador Syndrome (with Robby Valentine as guest on vocals),
never a dull moment: excellent interplay, orgastic solo
work, a warm accordion sound with Nina Hagen-like opera
vocals, a break with latino bass and an acoustic guitar
solo, a Spanish inspired interlude with guitar and handclapping
and a splendid final part featuring an ultimate bombastic
keyboard sound, heavy guitar and a propulsive rhythm-section,
here we can enjoy the exciting contrast between the classically
inspired keyboards and the harder-edged guitar sound, how
sensational!
I can imagine that progheads analyse this CD as a bit
‘over the top’, I also admit that most tracks rather sound
as jam-sessions than as elaborate compositions but if you
like this kind of heavy and bombastic symphonic rock (like
me, I also love fellow Japanese formation Gerard), you will
be delighted about Ars Nova, in my opinion this is one of
their best efforts!
Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!]
Erik
Neuteboom
Progwalhalla.nl
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