Ark played a very different style of progressive metal to the norm, especially surprising considering the extreme tendencies of Norwegian metal bands, as this long-awaited self-titled debut fuses talented musicianship with an undeniably commercial agenda. Most of the virtuoso musicians involved seem to have played as part of Yngwie Malmsteen's band at some point, and the Ark project adopts the same slightly contradictory and ultimately bland mix of pop rock choruses and instrumental masturbation. The result won't necessarily appeal to fans of more experimental prog metal bands, but those who enjoy the light side of hard rock and the occasional non sequitur jazz piano ...  Read the complete review