Arena: “Riding the Tide” (2003)
An exhilarating rush of instrumental Prog glory from a concept album called Contagion. Arena have survived quite a few lineup changes over the years. This one contains ubiquitous guitarist John Mitchell (It Bites, Kino, Frost, etc.) and that’s always a good thing. The band gives precedence to melody over a heavy rock sound. I find “Riding the Tide” contagious indeed, and I think its grandly anthemic sound would make it a good soundtrack for your kid’s high school sports highlight film. Just sayin’.
