ARK (7) – Burn The Sun

Burn the Sun, Ark's second (and sadly final) album stands as a shining example of just how good a progressive metal album can be. Ark's self-titled debut was a very good progressive rock album, but with Burn the Sun, the Scandinavian supergroup manages to capture everything that is great about progressive music while at the same time avoiding the genre's pitfalls.

The strength of progressive music is rooted in two things - the technical prowess of the musicians and experimental songwriting that challenges the musical status quo - and Ark has both of those bases covered. Guitarist Tore Ostby (ex-Conception), drummer John Macaluso (TNT), bassist Randy Coven (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen), and keyboardist Mats Olausson (also ex-Malmsteen) deliver performances worthy of the genre's best. Ark may not be at the same level of technicality as bands like Spiral Architect or Watchtower, but they succeed in one key area where those bands fall short - songwriting. With some of these over-the-top virtuoso bands, you get the distinct impression that their "songs" are just a collection of instrumental solos strung together. Not so with Ark. Ark manages to display their technical chops without becoming self-indulgent and their songs have a melodic accessibility that too few progressive metal bands can master (Dream Theater comes immediately to mind). This has a lot to do with the band's secret weapon, vocal god Jorn Lande.

Jorn Lande (ex-just about everyone) is one of the best vocalists in hard rock. His vocal style is firmly rooted in the David Coverdale/Ronnie James Dio school, and has the powerful presence of an ‘80s rock frontman. He's also a very talented songwriter with a flair for melodic metal. Imagine David Coverdale fronting Fates Warning and you'll get an idea of what Jorn Lande's presence means to Ark.

This is one of those albums where all of the stars are in perfect alignment. The band delivers a jaw-dropping technical performance and Jorn's vocal performance has the same impact. With a couple of exceptions, the songs average about 4-5 minutes each, proving that the musicians can avoid the typical progressive metal excesses. There's a great variety in the songwriting as well. In addition to the typical progressive metal style, there are elements of melodic rock, pop, and some of the tracks even have a groove that is downright funky (there's a term I never thought I'd apply to progressive metal). All of these elements work together with perfect synchronicity, the result of which is a truly unique metal album that is progressive in every sense of the word.

Burn the Sun is an essential progressive album. If you're into any kind of progressive music - from Dream Theater to Spiral Architect to King Crimson to ELP to Pain of Salvation to Spock's Beard - you must hear this album.