"lucid dawn" is arkaik's fourth full length already but the first one that was pressed to vinyl. from the time on i bought their follow-up "nemethia", i always wanted to stretch out my fingers for a copy of the predecessor. actually it took me something like half a year to finally do so. be that as it may, here i am with a cheap copy i picked up through the amazon market place (like so many records recently).
after the first full spin, i was really into it. the album sounds so fresh, unburdened and full of joy of playing that it feels like "lucid dawn" is the album the band wanted to write with "nemethia". the latter mentioned feels like they tried really hard to sound perfect and thus lost a bit of focus. "lucid dawn" is complex and technical as well but with the right feeling for an easy groove or hook at the right time to make the songs memorable.
all in all, i think that "lucid dawn" is the better album of the two arkaik records i know. i hope that unique leader will press the first records to vinyl as well but it doesn't seem like the guys have such a big reputation. re-issues may not be worth the effort to the label. well, we will see. the presentation is solid here. single pocket sleeve, printed dust sleeve and milkey clear with red splatter vinyl. good job, unique leader records. 2015.
