Arena’s tenth studio album, “The Theory of Molecular Inheritance”, features new lead singer Damian Wilson (ex-Threshold). This album features 11 tracks totaling approximately 62 minutes of powerful neo-prog music.
This is the first album from Arena in four years, and its release was highly anticipated for a variety of reasons. In addition to the change in lead vocalist, the album was also delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the wait was worth it as “The Theory of Molecular Inheritance” evokes a range of emotions, from introspection and melancholy to intensity and yearning. Moreover, the album’s variety and depth are making it even more intriguing for the listeners.
The album’s sound quality is enhanced by the combination of neo-prog and classic prog rock elements, as well as the great performances of the band members. Of course, it’s easily noticeable that this time the band has added several prog metal elements to its sound and I think that is due to Damian’s vocals in general.
For your information, the band has not made the album available on any digital platforms. It’s only available from their official website and on their live shows. That may be fine for their long-time supporters, but I doubt it will please their new ones.
“The Theory of Molecular Inheritance” is a marvelous album that showcases the band’s songwriting skills, as well as Wilson’s exceptional singing abilities. For those who claim that Damian’s vocals do not fit Arena, please give it a few more listens. It’s worth taking the time to really appreciate the unique combination of Damian’s voice and Arena’s music on the whole. Let’s see what this new Arena era will bring, for the first sample is truly captivating…
