Storming out of Central Ohio in 2006, we had DARK ARENA and their first full release "Alien Factor." This was a five-piece band, combining elements of Progressive Metal and Heavy Thrash, based around the guitar histrionics of Paul Konjicija and the upper register voice of Juan Ricardo. They had a sound that seemed influenced by the earlier works of QUEENSRYCHE and FATES WARNING; all the way to heavier artists such as SHADOWS FALL or ANTHRAX. This reissue will probably wake some folks up; as the stellar guitar work from Konjicija is a real head turner.

There are moments from this album that are unbelievably good and some that are not so much. It truly is a mixture, like a bag of Halloween candy where sometimes you grab a Snickers Bar...and sometimes you grab a rock. There are times that this happens within the span of a single song.

The album's opening track, "Freedom," is a particularly scorching and heavy cut. It does not take one long to figure out what he is in for here. The guitar work, bass, and drums are all amazing, and Ricardo's vocal on the track is fantastic. I was instantly put in mind of Geoff Tate's work from the first EP and some of the higher-range moments from "The Warning". You can hear that influence slicing through this record constantly. Ceo's drums, throughout the entire release, would make Lars Ulrich call for a taxi out of fear. The guy is amazing.

"Alien World" is a good example of the spottiness I referred to earlier. This song opens with the same fire as the opener, with some truly great, somewhat sneering, vocal work and otherworldly (no pun intended) musicianship. Then, there are moments with some staggered and filtered vocals that just don't feel to me as if they fit the remainder of the song. This could have been (and IS, in spots) an incredible cut, but the mentioned elements kind of left me in the cold.

The cover of "Crystallized", penned by the late John Marshall of SACRED HEART (and rightly dedicated in his memory), is another track that has moments of absolute brilliance. Again, musically, the song is amazing, but there are moments, vocally, where Ricardo seems to want to over deliver his range. The man has an incredible vocal range, and it would be equally as apparent without the showy and unnecessary reaching simply for reaching's sake.

All in all, this is a good record, and I will be looking at their later releases after hearing it. Like Tate, I hope Ricardo finds his identity with maturity, and learns to relax.