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Ark > Ark > Reviews
Ark - Ark

Trying hard in every way - 69%

AdNoctum, January 14th, 2020
Written based on this version: 2000, CD, Rising Sun Productions

Around the turn of the millennium, the "supergroup" Ark made two records and earned somewhat of a name for themselves in the progressive rock community. Their self-titled debut album is the more challenging of the two, with the musicians weaving elements from jazz and, as we Europeans call it, "world music" into the long and complex songs. Unfortunately, the album's production is rather poor: it's unbalanced and lacks dynamics and color. Obviously this doesn’t do the music any good.

From beginning to end, "Ark" is unmistakably a drummer’s record - not that surprising, since drummer John Macaluso was also the band's founder. His playing is placed front-and-center in the mix, but the drums sound flat-out horrible, with the spotlight on one of the ugliest ride cymbals you’ll ever hear in your life. Guitarist Tore Østby is often pushed to the background, his riffing sometimes barely distinguishable. Further more, only one of the songs features a bass guitarist, which partially (but not completely) explains the lack of low-end on the album.

Singer Jorn Lande was in his prime in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but his performance here is not very convincing. Although he sounds powerful and warm as always, his phrasing is just way off. Many sentences begin and end more or less in mid-air, while his timing is either "free" or tremendously behind the beat. This may have been a conscious choice (perhaps an attempt to add a "human touch" to the complicated music?), but it makes Lande sound as if he was unaware of what’s happening around him and/or struggled to fit the lyrics to the music. It kills the flow of the songs, especially since Lande’s band members are also (intentionally) playing around the beat. On the occasion that the vocals do lock in with the instrumental parts (like in "Singers At The World’s Dawn"), the songs immediately feel more grounded.

Composition-wise, the band clearly wasn’t short of ideas. With an average song length of 7 minutes, the album is a musical rollercoaster ride with many surprising twists and turns, animated drumming and innovative guitar work. But however adventurous they may be, most songs lack suspense and the piled-up ideas makes them feel more like a collection of great finds than real compositions. Also, the more jazzy sections sound unfittingly rigid, almost boorish - it's obvious that we're still listening to a rock band. Add the aforementioned lousy production and it becomes pretty hard to not fast-forward every once in a while.

"Ark" does have its moments, and is at times fascinating to listen to. Had the songs been more streamlined and the overall sound less demo-ish, it could have turned into an interesting jazz-influenced prog album, perhaps somewhat comparable to Transatlantic or Fates Warning. Now it strongly smells like a do-it-yourself-after-hours project by musicians whose recording skills are far less developed than their musical talents. It would take a second album ("Burn The Sun", released in 2001) for the band to both embrace the noble art of to-the-point songwriting and have their music recorded properly. Their first one basically shows a bunch of talented people trying and, ultimately, failing to make a convincing prog record with whatever limited means they have available.

Progressive pearl that stood the test of time - 95%

kluseba, December 27th, 2018
Written based on this version: 1999, CD, FaceFront Records

Ark is an overlooked and underrated Norwegian progressive metal band that released two records before it disappeared into oblivion. The eponymous debut features a young Jørn Lande before he decided to imitate Ronnie James Dio and focused his career on being the first guest on almost every Avantasia record, bassist Tore Østby who has recently had a respectable comeback with progressive power metal veterans Conception and American drummer John Macaluso who was also the drummer for Yngwie J. Malmsteen at that time. The release features numerous guests that play accordion, keyboard and saxophone among other instruments.

Ark's music is creative, harmonious and versatile which makes each of the seven tracks a voyage of the grandest kind. Intriguing lyrics, heartfelt melodies and innovative songwriting make this album stand out. Despite the stunning musicianship of everyone involved, the songs don't lose themselves in pretentious instrumental sections as the emotive vocals always play a central role. ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' is a prime example of progressive storytelling in the key of progressive rock genre veterans like Genesis while catchier and shorter tunes like the energetic ''Center Avenue'' might rather recall Arena. Despite heavy riffs and dynamic rhythm sections, this album qualifies as much as progressive rock as it does as progressive metal.

Ark's debut has aged very well and sounds still adventurous, atmospheric and unique two decades after its initial release. It has stood the test of time as one of the greatest progressive rock records of the nineties despite being so critically forgotten. If you look for timeless progressive music that truly pushes the boundaries and sits on the verge between progressive rock and metal, you should give yourself a little gift by checking this record out.

Romantic - 93%

The_Ghoul, May 15th, 2012

There's something inherently un-metal about Ark. Most people probably couldn't put their finger on it, but at the end of the day Ark's self titled debut has an atmosphere that's more conducive to taking your date on a long walk alongside a starlit beach than, say, smashing someone's head in. Sure, at times it's campy and cheesy, but that hasn't stopped anybody on this site yet and I see no reason why that would lower my enjoyment of this.

At its heart, Ark is fusion -- there are multiple elements here, from salsa music to jazz to metal to 70's progressive rock ala Kansas. Each song displays different elements, and gives you time to swish them around in your mouth before moving on to different themes. Essentially Ark is somewhat of a difficult band to describe, and I honestly doubt that there are really all that many bands who do similar things. Nay, Ark have cut a path of their own. While the follow up "Burn The Sun" has more matured songwriting and more consistent delivery, the s/t is more daring, more varied, and generally sees Ark doing things that simply haven't been before, or at least not in great quantity.

Albums like this usually almost scream for a song-by-song review, since each song is so different from the last. Each song possesses an atmosphere of its own, and has a good mix of catchy lines that will get stuck in your head long after you've forgotten the name of the song or even who wrote it, as well as progression and flitting from theme to theme. There's truly something here for any fan of progressive music here. The musicians are top notch here; every one contributes, and every instrument is not only clearly heard but quite prominent. There is no lazing here or background instruments.

I wish Jorn Lande would do more stuff like this. I'm such a fan of his voice, but his taste in bands is tacky, to say the least. I would love it if he spent more time doing projects like these instead of some other, more bland and derivative projects... *cough*masterplan*cough*... Anyways, enough wishful thinking. This album, on the other hand, requires no wishful thinking or rosy tinted glasses. It won me over from day one and I still swear by this album, and when you listen to it, you will too.