Magnum

December 10th, 2022 was a memorable night when British rock band Magnum played the final show of their European tour at KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton and, as they had done on all previous nights, wowed their fans from the first to the last note. The concert was recorded by a number of video cameras and state-of-the-art audio equipment, which later turned out to be a real blessing because it was - as we know with hindsight - the last official live recording starring Magnum founder Tony Clarkin. The guitarist and main songwriter died unexpectedly on January 07th, 2024, just a few days before the release of Magnum's studio album 'Here Comes The Rain', including a bonus DVD featuring the Wolverhampton show.<br/>Due to the huge demand and to mark the first anniversary of Clarkin's passing, 'Live At KK's Steel Mill' will be available on Steamhammer/SPV from January 10th, 2025, for the first time on double CD, triple LP and for digital download. The album presents Magnum as an enthusiastically celebrated act whose repertoire of hits, classics and newer material could hardly be more varied.

Magnum: The serpent rings 2020 [CD]

Magnum: Here comes the rain (Translucent) [Gatefold / 2 Vinyl LP]

It's a sign of definite quality when a band can look back at a career which started as early as 1972 (!) and are still capable of thoroughly awing their fans with every new album. Magnum deliver this kind of quality on a regular basis and are set to prove their outstanding position once again with their latest studio offering 'The Monster Roars'. Even after difficult months marked by pandemic-related concert cancellations, contact restrictions and uncertain perspectives for the whole music industry, the English rock act have succeeded in creating a vibrant, homogeneous work that impresses its listeners from the first to the last note and includes a number of surprises.<br/><br/>'The Monster Roars' kicks off with a real bang: opening with the title track, Magnum make it unmistakably clear that the group's current line-up consisting of Bob Catley (vocals), Tony Clarkin (guitar), Rick Benton (keyboards), Dennis Ward (bass) and Lee Morris (drums) is bursting with enthusiasm. Especially the signing of American bassist Dennis Ward (ex-Pink Cream 69, Unisonic, Place Vendome) has proved to be an absolute stroke of luck. "Unfortunately, we haven`t been able to play live with Dennis yet as all concerts had to be cancelled or postponed due to the lockdown. But we've already rehearsed intensively with him and were delighted to discover that he not only plays a first-rate bass but also provides fantastic backing vocals," explains Tony Clarkin and adds: "Dennis has catapulted the band to another level in a number of ways. We`re looking forward to our first live shows with him and are certain that our fans will be as excited about Dennis as we are." <br/><br/>The title track, however, is only the prelude to a recording that features solid rock numbers such as 'Remember', 'The Present Not The Past', 'The Day After The Night Before' and 'That Freedom Word' as well as atmospheric ballad track 'Walk The Silent Hours' and midtempo 'Can't Buy Yourself Heaven', with the anthemic 'All You Believe In' bringing to mind Queen and 'No Steppin' Stones' sparkling with an amazing brass section. Magnum's lyrics are also (almost) all about the present, as song titles such as 'Your Blood Is Violence', 'Come Holy Men' or 'Can`t Buy Yourself Heaven' prove. Clarkin: "This album is more about social subjects, including political issues." No doubt about it: 'The Monster Roars' is a well-tempered mixture of typical Magnum trademarks, contemporary influences and trailblazing approaches which are guaranteed to win the band lots of new fans.