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David Randall chatted to Bob Catley and Lee Morris playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 24 December 2023.
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 12.01.24]
Magnum celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022 when they finally got to tour “The Monster Roars” following the covid interregnum. No such constraint with the latest release with a European tour scheduled for April.
As we have reported for previous albums, Magnum are unlikely to release a duffer and each release merely tops up an enviable back catalogue. And each album, for fans, is a matter of weighing up relativity if not similarity to predecessors. The album does repay repeat listens, always a good sign of solid songwriting and musicianship.
We don’t expect any great innovation with the band these days but they remain contemporary. Opener ‘Run Into The Shadows” actually has the urgency and musical patina of Winger in its opening and recurring riff. In truth the portent of that opening salvo quickly dissipates.
With Bob Catley’s mellowing tones, the songs are arranged accordingly and this might also explain on balance the propensity of mid-tempo songs (such as the glorious title track, ‘Some Kind Of Treachery’ and ‘The Day He Lied’). In different hands these might become a bit dirgey but Catley’s more seasoned tones actually suit. And they are all good for a sing-along. The more upbeat ‘After The Silence’ chops and changes between croon and more uplifting chorus whilst ‘Broken City’ is all the more poignant for current political events. Ditto ‘Borderline’.
The hardcore may prefer a bit more hard rock in the mix but that seemingly is not how the band operate these days. Let the back catalogue meet that need. For many the standouts will therefore be that opener, and the rock and roll ‘Blue Tango’.
As ever there is great backup from Rick Benton’s keys and solid rhythm from Lee Morris and Dennis Ward. Benton is responsible for the rich widescreen orchestration of these pieces even if at times the band again veer into John Parr/John Farnham territory c.1984/6. Clarkin’s guitar remains restrained throughout with minimal solos.
In fact this might be the biggest difference to older sorties, the lack of lead guitar which is not compensated for by any great use of solo keyboard. Only the use of brass on ‘The Seventh Darkness’ (continuing with recent tradition) provides a welcome new texture.
As we say, though, never a duffer. ****
Review by David Randall
Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (Magnum, December 2023)
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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