A Crack in the Ice

A Crack in the Ice opens The Visitor and, at 7:25, is the longest piece on the album. Jurriaan Hage, reviewing the record in July 1998, liked the opening theme and heard a fairly straightforward verse and chorus alongside a dark section at the end and some rough edges in the middle. He thought the last part sounded eerie. The theme returns later in the album, in Running from Damascus, where the music shifts into a higher gear with vocal harmonies and more energy.

The album was recorded at Thin Ice Studios between September 1997 and January 1998, with Paul Wrightson singing. Nolan wrote the lyrics for the album, and the music is credited to Nolan, Jowitt, Mitchell and Pointer.

Live

On setlist.fm it is the third most played Arena song, with 177 logged performances, behind Crying for Help VII and (Don't Forget To) Breathe.