"One of Power Rock's Best Kept Secrets " Arrival - Delayed (Pendulum)
Apparently according to the sticker on the shrinked wrapped sleeve the band scored themselves a top 40 hit single with the song 'Some Deja Vu', which country though this happened in I am unsure, but my guess is that they probably scored big on the Christian charts, as indeed Arrival are a Christian melodic rock outfit, who have come from out of nowhere to prove that audiences still want to hear good old classic melodic rock. Indeed listening to the album I feel like it's the 80's again upon hearing the treasures this album offers.
The music is right up there with Journey, in fact I would say that is quite possibly even better than the last Journey album, or at least equals it, The production is massive and one has to take note of the bands CD sleeve where artists such as Mark Free are amongst the thanks credits.
So who the hell are Arrival then and why haven't we heard of them until now? I'm not really sure as I a bio didn't come with this the CD, they have an impressive website (www.musicbyarrival.com)where you can hear their songs, but not much info on them. So I guess we just have to let the music do the talking until I can interview the band and find out everything about them.
Recorded at Colorado Sound Recording, Arrival have finally released "Delayed" which is their debut CD and features ten original mouth watering songs tracks like the amazing 'My Destiny' and the fantastic guitar riddled ''That's Why' both of which captures the energy and personality of this talented band as well as their Journey influences and showing sings of pompy Styx influences, especially on the aforementioned 'Some Deja Vu' which could have come right off the last Styx studio album "Brave New World". We even hear hints of Harlan Cage during 'Used To Be In Love', this is an easy flowing ballad, with great harmony vocals. I could just imagine Hugo crooning his way through the piano based balled called 'Lead The Way' which reminds me of a revamped version of Hugo's own 'A Tear In LA' crossed with Styx's Dennis De Young style vocals. 'Stand Up Now' is one of the most catchiest songs on the album which has a very instant Tyketto vibe with singer Michael Badagliacco sounding very much like Danny Vaughn crossed with Steve Perry. A great song with cool guitar melodies.Overall Arrival is of a very professional caliber and here I have found a very satisfying release, and contender for album of the year. Essential.
(Reviewed by Nicky Baldrian - AORDreamzones.com - Holland)
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If you're into the music of the first The Storm CD, Journey, or the quality releases by Idle Cure & White Heart, you pretty much owe it to yourself to at least check out this band's music at their homesite address (musicbyarrival.com),since this is a pretty fantastic indie release with a really good production. You can also find some influences and similarities to Styx on this "Delayed" CD.
The story of Arrival dates back to 1986 when guitarist Charlie McCormick and keyboardist /guitaist Ric Cabot Podmore formed the band. Charlie was ex.Arena, a power pop/rock band that packed venues all over US, while Ric was ex.Saint Germaine. The search of a powerful vocalist began and Mark Free (ex.King Kobra) joined the rest of the band at the end of -86 (right after he left KK actually). Unfortunately, due to problems with powermad record labels (they wanted total control over everything and beyond), Arrival never released the material they recorded with Free. Finally very frustrated, and righfuly so, Mark Free left the band in the autumn of 1988. He would of course later return with both Signal, Unruly Child and his solo stuff.
Arrival pressed onward and never looked back though, Michael Badagliacco is the singer here and he's yet another great tenor. "Delayed" was recorded at their home studio in Denver/Colorado a couple of years ago and it's a fine piece of Christian AOR. "Used To Be In Love", "Lead The Way" & "Some Things Never Change" are ballads that go straight to the heart with lovely keys and choruses. I'm sure both Steve Perry & Hugo would kill for these tunes [:-)]. Opener "No Time To Lose" rocks pretty hard while "Sign Of Devotion" is very much White Heart during their Highlands period. "Some Deja Vu" continues in the same style only slightly more progressive in the Styx tradition. This is something that would fit the European AOR lables like a glove as everything is very professionally done here. They do have a couple of fillers though!!! Kip Winger's brother Nate is involved as background singer here and I believe he's Arrival's new frontman by now???. Anyway, make sure to check 'em out at the site below if you're into above mentioned bands.
(Review by Urban "Wally" Walstrom - RockUnited.com - Sweden)