Magnum

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.

Magnum: The Serpent Rings [CD]

Magnum: Lost on the road to eternity 2018 [CD]

Ett rockband. En instutition. Ett band som håller farten och formen intakt! Magnum har alltid varit ett stort band i vårt land, och denna platta lär knappast göra att deras gloria kommer på sned.<br/>Elva nya låtar i typisk Magnum-stil. <br/><br/>En stor stark, En större... Magnum!<br/><br/>Provlyssning:<br/>https://soundcloud.com/steamhammer-spv/magnum-escape-from-the-shadow/s-cLAkT

Denna hårdrockinstutition med namnet Magnum slutar aldrig att överraska! Efter senaste plattan var det dags för en stor turné, och den resulterade i detta Magnum Opus - en proppfylld <br/>dubbelCD som visar upp ett gäng herrar i  absolut toppform. 

It's been three years since Magnum brought out The Valley Of Tears - The Ballads, a compilation that focused on the British rock act's quiet, more otherworldly and dreamy side. Three years during which the idea matured to follow this successful release (top 100 of the German album charts) with a companion piece. Dance Of The Black Tattoo has turned into exactly that: a collection of songs that present Magnum exclusively as tough-as-nails rocking and extremely vibrant musicians. <br/><br/>What makes this album so special is the fact that Magnum have gone through their impressive archive, looking for rare live cuts and outstanding radio versions and have come up with spirited live recordings and edits that concentrate on the essential components of some of their most accomplished rock numbers. Naturally, guitarist and band mastermind Tony Clarkin has used this opportunity to remaster and update all 14 tracks so that they comply with the state-of-the-art of (sound) technology. Says Clarkin: "There have always been two aspects to Magnum: a slightly more tender and lyrical facet, but first and foremost of course our powerful, rocking side. And that's the element that Dance Of The Black Tattoo documents impressively."

Egentligen vet vi ju allt om Magnum. Vi vet att det är som en mix av Deep Pruple och Europe. Vi vet att dom har tusentals fans här i landet. Vi vet att Bob Catley är en grym sångare. Vi vet att Tony Clarkin är en gitarrist av rang. Vi vet att dom skriver bra låter. Och plattan är minst lika bra som man vågat hoppas.