{"id":8433,"date":"2022-01-24T17:52:01","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T16:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/?p=8433"},"modified":"2025-11-30T11:49:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T10:49:30","slug":"magnum-the-monster-roars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kessel-tamerus.nl\/Esthers_Blog\/rock\/magnum-the-monster-roars\/","title":{"rendered":"Magnum \u2013 The Monster Roars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The English melodic rock band Magnum exists almost 50 years! Of course, there have been several changes in the line-up, but guitarist Tony Clarkin and singer Bob Catley have been there from the beginning. Their artwork has always looked beautiful. After a number of quite colourful album covers, the artwork of new album, ‘The Monster Roars’, is a bit darker. This time they chose a very detailed photo. This one is so beautiful, that you keep on looking at it. Most of the lyrics are about the here and now, and include social and political issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The start of ‘The Monster Roars’ is perhaps a bit calmer than you would expect with the title. But the vocals come out well because of this. As expected, the rock doesn’t wait long. Rock is interspersed with rather quiet pieces, in which now and then piano sounds are incorporated. Bob’s voice has a little rough edge, his voice is still beautiful. There is a lovely, rousing instrumental rocking piece. After a vocal outburst, the music dies away pretty quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Remember’ has a compelling, instrumental start, here Bob sings suitably sensitive. The rhythm gets a rousing character. The build-up is a bit more complex than the standard verse chorus. This provides a fine balance between accessibility and surprises. The balance or alternation between delicious rock and subdued parts is also very good. This also applies to the way the instruments are ‘distributed’. The sound of strings is very well added, the keyboard work is very varied. Also ‘All You Believe In’ has a subdued start. Dennis Ward is the new bass player, he also takes care of the backing vocals. And he does that very well, the voices blending very well together. Moreover, the amount of backing vocals is well chosen. Not too much, not too little, and not too predictable either. The piano sounds are again well added. The end is a bit predictable, but beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lyrics of ‘I Won’t Let You Down’ are perhaps a bit sugary. This makes it a lovely, calm sing-along, which will certainly work well at live shows. That certainly counts for ‘No Steppin’ Stones’. Here, a horn section provides a cheerful atmosphere. The distribution of the songs on the album is good, because ‘That Freedom Word’ has some more rocking elements. But also here it is alternated with subdued parts. ‘Walk The Silent Hours’ is a pleasant ballad. Vocals and music constantly form a fine harmony. The songs that follow are all very comfortable. It is great to turn up the volume and rock out. The spoken words after ‘The Day After The Night Before’ are a bit difficult to understand, but it is fun to hear. Finally, ‘Can’t Buy Yourself Heaven’, a beautiful song in mid-paced, with some great guitar playing and a nice bass groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All songs are built with care, they clearly have a beginning and an end. There are some predictable things, yet there are plenty of nice surprises in vocals and music. There is a fine balance between the (exhilarating) rhythm and melody. Magnum proves that, even after fifty years, they can still be surprising!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(80\/100) (Steamhammer \/ SPV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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