Search - Ark :: Burn The Sun

No it's not Dream Theater PT II

John R. Craig | Austin, TX United States | 09/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Burn the Sun has to be one of the most incredibly creative releases I've heard in years. I've already heard the comparisons, and for those who've heard Ark is another DT clone, ignore it. The two bands can only be compared through their incredible musicianship. Other than that, there aren't too many other similarities. Burn the Sun can be enjoyed on many levels. Even if this album had no vocals, It'd still be one of my top ten albums of all time; but it does have vocals, incredible vocals the likes of which are seldom heard anymore in this modern world of whiny, lungless frontmen wailing about how much their lives suck. Ark's influences range from prog to jazz to spanish/flamenco to orchestral to salsa (yes, salsa, and it's incredibly cool) and the depth of their lyrics is astounding; this is a band of virtuosoes. For all the tech-head proggers out there, all the fusion lovers, anyone who loves well arranged and exquisitely performed music, this album is a must for your collection."

Majestic

Dr Nick | Sheffield, S Yorks United Kingdom | 05/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are no two ways about it - this CD is awesome. The singer, Jorn Lande, has been around for a while, but never really made it - the closest was with Millenium, who did OK in Europe, and as Yngwie Malmsteen's touring vocalist until they had a li'l fight and he left. His basic voice is similar to David Coverdale, but fuller, and more versatile. He can (and does) take from Robert Plant, Lou Gramm, Glenn Hughes and even Bjork!!! The guitarist, Tore Ostby, has also done things on the quiet, and is VERY good. Hints of Malmsteen and Ty Tabor (two very different styles) but he is his own man, and knows it. John Macaluso is a total maniac on drums, keeps busy at all times, but tasteful, talented but not overwhelming. Randy Coven and his fretless bass, a joy to hear, well mixed so you can always hear him. And Mats Ollausen on keys, SO talented and versatile.And the songs. Hard rock, metal, indie, ballads, even an acoustic latin piece (Just a Little - my favourite number), all are represented here (sometimes in the same song!!!) but the album feels GOOD, not disjointed, and flows from number to number flawlessly. Bottom line, these boys can write, play and produce, and Burn the Sun is the best thing I've bought this year."

A healthy shot of genre-crushing, progressive metal.

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 12/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How do you burn the sun? Hmm...the mysteries of life.Ark is beyond a shadow of a doubt one of progressive metal's most progressive bands. That might sound weird, since you'd figure that prog metal is progressive by virtue of nomenclature. However, it's not always true. The existence of the glut of lame Dream Theater clones out there seems to me a case in point. Here, the simple fact that there's virtually no Dream Theater comparison possible means that Ark has attained something rare in the progressive metal genre -- they are completely unique.This is Ark's second album. As brilliant and original as the debut was, this is better. On a flat basis of originality, it stands a bit lower than the debut, but the songwriting here is simply jaw-dropping and the production quality flawless. While the song structures are usually pretty ordinary (namely the lyrical structures), the encompassing music is so diverse that it never feels streamlined at all. Individually, Ark is comprised of phenomenal musicians possessing chops and writing talent. Tore Ostby has thrust himself into the leadership race of best progressive metal guitarist. The man's style, tone, and technique are varied, unique, and precise. His playing ranges from the flaring leads of "Heal the Waters" to the bubbly flamenco plucking of "Just a Little." His stock of heavy riffs are much more diverse and interesting than the staple prog metal "chugga-chug" riffs. The awe-inspiring drummer John Macaluso unleashes ceaselessly complex rhythms with enough restraint that it isn't pretentious. Bassist Randy Coven and keyboardist Mats Olausson don't seem to be permanent band members, but they make an impression as more than just "session players." (Coven's bass is particularly great.)Vocalist Jorne Lande is astonishing. Yes, he does sound like David Cloverdale at times, but one can't leave it at that. He possesses tremendous range and the dynamics of his voice are just incredible. If you listened to "Absolute Zero," "Just a Little," and "Torn," one might not immediately recognize that it's the same man singing. He does throw in some hack 80s rock bits like "baby" and "yeah!" but it seems to mesh so well. His emotional power is truly sincere...just listen to "Missing You." So diverse is Lande's singing that aside from the Cloverdale influence, I hear elements of Bono, Dio, Sting, and lots of classic rock singers. Not every one likes Lande's voice, which I understand. I think he's an incredible singer, though, and he mostly sounds better and more diverse here than on the debut. It's also nice to see a prog metal band vocalist who isn't a tenth-rate James LaBrie or Geoff Tate clone. All in all, he's a vocalist of matchless depth and richness.Burn the Sun deals out first-class progressive songs with focused fury, locking into an energetic groove that is the band's engine. The album is nearly unparalleled in diversity. In under an hour, there are 80s power ballads ("Feed the Fire"), soaring prog metal pieces ("Torn"), fierce rockers of simmering dynamics ("Heal the Waters," "Burn the Sun"), aggressive metal ("Noose"), delicious flamenco-based pop/rock ("Just a Little"), and finally an epic mega-ballad ("Missing You"). This last song, "Missing You," ends the album on a tender note, accentuated by orchestral keyboards and glowing pianos. It builds to a powerful, involving anthem of longing and romance. Ostby's solo is sensuous and stirring, and the heavier riffs near the end emphasize Lande's aching vocal.With songwriting so outstandingly good and progressive, the fact that the production is killer is absolutely the icing on the cake. Burn the Sun should score a reward for having one of the best productions in progressive metal. The buzzing guitar riffs of the debut are replaced with an edgier, thicker sound. The clarity is incredible (I can hear every note on bass). But this is no sparkling AOR production...this mix has power! It's raw, but it doesn't sound messy.I've had this album for months, and I feel bad about not reviewing it earlier. The word of Ark's greatness must be spread throughout the progressive metal world. If you don't have Ark's albums, you're simply not hearing some of the best music the genre has to offer. If you think the price of the Japanese import is prohibitive, hunt down the European edition."