Questions for regular Al Barrow: What are the guys/your thoughts on the new album - compared to the other recent outputs? It sure sounds like a step more towards classic Magnum and a little more melodic/commercial sounding, which many of us have felt Tony's avoided on purpose lately. So, my question is, is it deliberate to please fans or is it something the band really wanted and just a question of getting it right this time? I hear differences in terms of production between tracks . . . am I totally off here or are they recorded differently/on different occasions? My own thoughts: I sat down this evening in front of my home stereo with a glass of Caol Ila (for the interested, it's scotch I won in a golf tournament and I'm really struggling with it) and had a serious listening session. Played the whole album from start to finish. I can safely say that it's the best Magnum album since at least Wings Of Heaven, in my humble opinion. It's got everything and I love all songs included, which is a really rare thing for me. As stated both here on the board and in Andrew's review, there a hints of all classic Magnum eras/albums and all ingredients are there. The songs seem more worked and thought out this time around and there a subtle differences that highlights parts of the songs that I've missed on the other reunion albums. Like the doubled vocals (harmonizer) on Bob's voice in "Putting Things In Place" and like the choir in "From Within", the space between the instuments and how the songs breathe (perfectly explained by other posters in recent thread), the rhythmic fills by Tony on some songs not just basic riffs (reminds me of Storyteller's Night) etc. etc. By far the most varied album in terms of both tempo and style of the reunion albums. There's also a more chiseled out and distinct bass and bottom end on the disc than before. Sounds fantastic (great job Al)! The choruses are better and standout more . . . but they could've been even bigger with more added background vocals/harmonies on some occasions. The ballad is the best they've done in years and I can hear Vigilante all over it and some of the songs are more commercial sounding and melodic than we've heard Magnum in many, many years. With some slight changes in production, I would've given it 100% but it's not perfect so I agree with Andrew's score on this one. :-) The main beef I have is the drums. The snare and hi-hat is too crashy/splashy for my taste and too prominent in some songs. Works better in some but overall it annoys me a little. It reminds me of how the drums sound on a badly ripped 128 kbps MP3 file (exaggerating on purpose just to explain). Don't know if Harry is to blame here, though he is a very stiff drummer in my opinion, bacause it's more a sound thing for me than the style of the drummer. The sound however makes me very aware of the quite boring beats. Overall, a fantastic album and really looking forward to more music from this marvelous band and I love the fact that it's kept to 11 great tracks instead of filling it out with less excellent songs. I have no huge problem with the track running order either to be honest, which have been discussed here. Favourite songs on the disc at the moment, in order: See How They Fall From Within On The 13th Day Shadow Town Didn't Like You Anyway Blood Red Laughter Putting Things In Place So Let It Rain Dance Of The Black Tattoo All The Dreamers Broken Promises // Figgehttp://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913585#msg-913585Sun, 19 May 2013 19:48:20 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913713#msg-913713 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913713#msg-913713-------------------------------------------------------

> Again, it`s not a conscious thing but thats the
> way it comes out. As I say, the gents are not as
> young as they were so may be reflected a little in
> the tempo. What was funny is that I Tony had read
> Andrews Melodicrock review of the album and agreed
> with his running order. We spend days looking at
> so many variations and never seem to be 100%. But
> there has to be a point when you say…right thats
> it`!
> But Andrew had a point it seems.

That's cool...thnaks for the feedback Al.]]> Andrew NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 10:18:33 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913696#msg-913696 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913696#msg-913696He did pop in to say hello though during recording a few times.]]> Al Barrow NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 06:30:50 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913680#msg-913680 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913680#msg-913680
You said everything perfectly and got the points across way better than I did. I blame the language barrier (not the Caol Ila). ;-)


Figge]]> Figge NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 04:19:28 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913678#msg-913678 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913678#msg-913678
At least the start of the album.

Maybe I'll burn a copy with a revised track order later, but not a priority right now. :-)


Figge]]> Figge NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 04:09:43 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913676#msg-913676 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913676#msg-913676
"I think Tony has become aware of the big harmony thing and wants to carry a lot of these songs on tour. So we didn't want it to be so overblown that we could not replicate to a good standard live. We are lucky to have Bob with such a strong voice he can carry the band alone but me an Tony always have to be aware of what our vocal duties will be live and don't want to have to compromise anything. Music or vocals. It`s got to be the very best we can do and nothing less"

Yeah, that was my guess too . . . because it would be hard to replicate in a live setting. No big thing, just my own thoughts, but to be honest, I don't feel it's necessary for the background vocals/harmonies to be 100% replicated live. I'm sure some people do though.

"The Ballad?
"Putting things in Place" is the song of the album for me"

Yes, that's the one I'm talking about and the reason for me only calling it "the ballad" is that it's the only one on the album I'd call a ballad and there is always at least one on each album. Compared to all the other recent ballads this one is a monster. It's a fantastic song, and I'm usually no friend of ballads. :-)

"Thats OK, we do our best, but even after all these years we know we can still strive to be better"

Well, I should say that I haven't heard any album I would give 100% so far in my life (a whole other debate that's been brought to life on a few occasions here that I referred to), so please don't feel inadequate as it is one of the best albums I've heard in many many years. ;-)

"I don't really know how to answer that as it`s a personal point of view i feel"

The drums "issue" wasn't meant to be a question and of course it's just a matter of personal preference. It doesn't bother me that much either.

"Thats great you have taken the time to even write this out, we appreciate peoples feedback of course and all we can hope for is an album that you will enjoy and play for many years"

No problem, mate . . . and you can count on it!

"It`s seems to get harder each time trying to get everything just right, as they say everyones a critic these days and thats fine. We all have our opinions and ways of making them heard"

Not just these days. Back in the days we sat in our own homes discussed the same things but then it was just with our friends and not on a public forum. :-)

That was my initial point with this post and the questions directed at you. All of a sudden you hit the nail on the head and most, if not all, fans seem to be happy with what you've done here . . .. and I started to wonder how come, and why everything suddenly just fell in place (not just for me, obviously).

Guess it wasn't a conscious move or that you guys have done things differently this time, all the elements just fell in place at the same time anyway.

Again, thanks for taking the time to answer this somewhat drunken ramblings and congratulations to you and the guys for making yeat another classic. :-)


// Figge]]> Figge NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 04:02:36 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913660#msg-913660 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913660#msg-913660-------------------------------------------------------
>
> What do you 2 guys think of the album's
> sequencing?

Definitely open with See How They Fall. Beyond that, I'm still debating. It might take some time to figure out the tracklisting.
Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 01:46:19 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913655#msg-913655 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913655#msg-913655-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice review Kevin.
> Ever considered a job in journalism, you could
> show a few people how things can be done.
>
> If ok can I share the link to this on facebook.???


be my guest....
Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 01:35:29 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913651#msg-913651 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913651#msg-913651 aorneil NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 01:25:03 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913632#msg-913632 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913632#msg-913632
Al, thanks for taking the time to answer the questions here. I think every reader of your lines can feel, that it is indeed a "labour of love" for you. I wish you and the guys in Magnum only the best!

I also have one question, on at least two of the latest albums the great Jim Lea played violin. Can Jim also be heard on the new album? Is there any further collaboration, I would love to see him working on new music again!]]> Marty NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 00:08:49 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913629#msg-913629 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913629#msg-913629Ever considered a job in journalism, you could show a few people how things can be done.

If ok can I share the link to this on facebook.???]]> Al Barrow NoticeboardMon, 01 Oct 2012 00:01:16 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913628#msg-913628 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913628#msg-913628
What are the guys/your thoughts on the new album - compared to the other recent outputs?

Ye, It`s kind of an over done thing when we say this album, the latest is the best we have done. it`s seems we say that with every album, but I have to say, hand on heart I really mean this when I say it. The new album On the 13th Day has been a labour of love once again. long hours and many many variations have gone into the recording. We try very hard to firstly please ourselves in what we do musically and then try somehow to take on fans opinions and work them in their with out selling out.
We stay true to ourselves and are lucky to be with a record label who allow us to do what ever we wish.
As you know Tony is the songwriter on all Magnum albums. Once he has the raw bones we all come in to the studio and start putting in our parts. tony is a great person to work for and with. He`s open to suggestions but at the same time knows exactly what he wants.
When it gets to the studio recording it is very much a collaboration of all band members but with a strong man at the helm. Too many cooks can make life hard in a studio, if you know what I mean. it`s worked for Magnum for many years and we all like the way it goes.
It seems to work. Predominately, Bob, Tony & myself along with engineer Sheena Seer spend virtually everyday in the studio over a period of about 4 months. Obviously Mark comes in when it`s the time keyboards are required and for his input on the album is called for. He`s a busy guy playing in other bands very much like Mr James (HARRY) who lives further from the studio so spends a little less time there. he can do his tracks in a short space of time due to his ability and talent. He really is one of the best most solid drummers to work with.
Yes, there are those that have issues with comparisons with mickey Barker, thats expected but from a band mamba and song writer we all love what he brings into the band, and as a bass player he gives space and power to songs and is such a professional guy to work with. Theres more to being in a band than just playing flash licks.


It sure sounds like a step more towards classic Magnum and a little more melodic/commercial sounding, which many of us have felt Tony's avoided on purpose lately. So, my question is, is it deliberate to please fans or is it something the band really wanted and just a question of getting it right this time?

I know Tony has not set agendas when writing. He just does what he feels is good. He does get influenced like we all do by our surroundings and what we are listening to and reading at times. I know when we did the Visitation album we had spent 2 months on a tour bus watching Rammstein, so i felt a few influences were laid down there.
The last tour we spent more time listing to a moor e varied commercial set of music so may be something was picked up sublimely there also. But no, no real effort to sit down and say… this is going to be this or that. I hear what people are saying when they say they hear some classic Magnum in the new album and ye, i would agree. You have the nucleus of what makes Magnum who and what they are. Some say the album may be too mid tempo but not to make excuses it would not be Magnum for us to play heavy metal thrashy songs. Bob is, lets say 'mature' but still belts it out. It`s not his or the band style to do those kinds of songs.
if you hear WINGS OF HEAVEN that fine we don't mind it was a great album.
We try to make an album that not only sounds to us but hope to be taken on by the people who have followed the band for so long, but at the sam time try to spark the imagination of some possible younger listeners. This seems to have been working going from our fan mail fanbase and Facebook friends.

I hear differences in terms of production between tracks . . . am I totally off here or are they recorded differently/on different occasions?

All recorded at the same time over a period of a few months in the same place. May be different days make you hear and do things slightly differently. I think the songs are quite varied anyway so they call for a different mix sonically. We try to use the same gear in the studio as we do live. We are always kind of trying to get that live sound we have but as polished as possible without removing all the excitement. It`s hard sometimes getting across the real feel on record and i do think we develop the songs even after recording them into the a live show. So the new songs on the forth coming tour will continue to grow and change a little.
Even some of the older songs we play and some older ones were bringing back on tour this time have been looked at again to make the fresh.
You have to remember that Magnum have been playing for a long time and we to have to make the music enjoyable to play as well as to listen to.
A lot of people ask for very old songs that unfortunately wont get played again. The band are very positive that what we are doing now is a valid as anything the band have done in the past, if we didn't we would just be here for the money!
We want to play lots of nes songs live, as this is what we have tried to create this year in the studio, a Magnum today but still knowing where we came from and the songs that made us popular. It`s a bit of a balancing game in what we want to do and hope people will come on our journey with us and give what we think people want to hear. After all it`s your ticket money that lets us do what we do. So it`s always a debate.


My own thoughts:

I sat down this evening in front of my home stereo with a glass of Caol Ila (for the interested, it's scotch I won in a golf tournament and I'm really struggling with it) and had a serious listening session. Played the whole album from start to finish.
I can safely say that it's the best Magnum album since at least Wings Of Heaven, in my humble opinion. It's got everything and I love all songs included, which is a really rare thing for me. As stated both here on the board and in Andrew's review, there a hints of all classic Magnum eras/albums and all ingredients are there.

The songs seem more worked and thought out this time around and there a subtle differences that highlights parts of the songs that I've missed on the other reunion albums. Like the doubled vocals (harmonizer) on Bob's voice in "Putting Things In Place" and like the choir in "From Within", the space between the instuments and how the songs breathe (perfectly explained by other posters in recent thread), the rhythmic fills by Tony on some songs not just basic riffs (reminds me of Storyteller's Night) etc. etc.

There are some, what you could call trade mark sounds from the boys on this album, Bob and Tony know what works for them.

By far the most varied album in terms of both tempo and style of the reunion albums.

Again, it`s not a conscious thing but thats the way it comes out. As I say, the gents are not as young as they were so may be reflected a little in the tempo. What was funny is that I Tony had read Andrews Melodicrock review of the album and agreed with his running order. We spend days looking at so many variations and never seem to be 100%. But there has to be a point when you say…right thats it`!
But Andrew had a point it seems.

There's also a more chiseled out and distinct bass and bottom end on the disc than before. Sounds fantastic (great job Al)!

Thank you very much for that. As I am using Warwick maps still but now use Fender bass swell on the album I think the bottom end has been given a certain thickness Magnum were lacking a little earlier on. I hope so anyway. I am influenced by many payers and styles and do prefer a grittier rancher sound than what is on the Magnum album but again you have to say whats right for the band and the song. Thats the most important thing at the end of the day, is the song!

The choruses are better and standout more . . . but they could've been even bigger with more added background vocals/harmonies on some occasions.

I think Tony has become aware of the big harmony thing and wants to carry a lot of these songs on tour. So we didn't want it to be so overblown that we could not replicate to a good standard live. We are lucky to have Bob with such a strong voice he can carry the band alone but me an Tony always have to be aware of what our vocal duties will be live and don't want to have to compromise anything. Music or vocals. It`s got to be the very best we can do and nothing less.

The ballad is the best they've done in years and I can hear Vigilante all over it and some of the songs are more commercial sounding and melodic than we've heard Magnum in many, many years.

The Ballad?
"Putting things in Place" is the song of the album for me. I love that song and the simplistic structure which lets Bobs voice and emotion come flooding through. It`s an incredibly emotional song for Bob to sing and even I have the old hairs on the neck stood up when he sang it in the studio.

With some slight changes in production, I would've given it 100% but it's not perfect so I agree with Andrew's score on this one. :-)

Thats OK, we do our best, but even after all these years we know we can still strive to be better.

The main beef I have is the drums. The snare and hi-hat is too crashy/splashy for my taste and too prominent in some songs. Works better in some but overall it annoys me a little. It reminds me of how the drums sound on a badly ripped 128 kbps MP3 file (exaggerating on purpose just to explain). Don't know if Harry is to blame here, though he is a very stiff drummer in my opinion, bacause it's more a sound thing for me than the style of the drummer. The sound however makes me very aware of the quite boring beats.

I don't really know how to answer that as it`s a personal point of view i feel.

Overall, a fantastic album and really looking forward to more music from this marvelous band and I love the fact that it's kept to 11 great tracks instead of filling it out with less excellent songs. I have no huge problem with the track running order either to be honest, which have been discussed here.

Thats great you have taken the time to even write this out, we appreciate peoples feedback of course and all we can hope for is an album that you will enjoy and play for many years.
We know were not everyones cup of tea and will not tick all the box`s in what people seem to want out of an album these days. It`s seems to get harder each time trying to get everything just right, as they say everyones a critic these days and thats fine. We all have our opinions and ways of making them heard. Thats what makes web sites like melodicrock.com such an interesting place to visit.
It`s always hard to read other peoples opinions when you put heart and sole into something very close to us, but there will always naysayer that hate the band & the album…( Victoria Durham of Kerrapp) (oops did i say that out loud?) ...but generally many people have valid insightful revelations. It makes for some interesting if not sometimes convicting reading.
It would be a very boring world if we all agreed on everything.

Thanks for the mail and the time and for buying the album. hope to see you on tour sometime. Al Barrow.

Favourite songs on the disc at the moment, in order:

See How They Fall
From Within
On The 13th Day
Shadow Town
Didn't Like You Anyway
Blood Red Laughter
Putting Things In Place
So Let It Rain
Dance Of The Black Tattoo
All The Dreamers
Broken Promises


// Figge]]> Al Barrow NoticeboardSun, 30 Sep 2012 23:56:07 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913600#msg-913600 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913600#msg-913600
I've had a few people contact me with compliments on my revised track order.

What do you 2 guys think of the album's sequencing?]]> Andrew NoticeboardSun, 30 Sep 2012 16:50:42 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913597#msg-913597 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913597#msg-913597

ON THE 13th DAY

Magnum. 40 years. 16 studio albums, an acoustically reworked studio album, and 2 more under the Hard Rain moniker with Catley and Clarkin while the band was on hiatus. That’s not counting a bunch of live albums, compilations, a recent Best-Of that was partially re-recorded with a few new songs, and a multi-disk box set. To put it mildly, that’s a big catalog.

For whatever reason, Magnum never really hit it as big as a lot of people thought they would. The issue really starts with the “Magnum sound”. Unlike many of their contemporaries, there never was one specific style. They were too pop for progressive rock fans, too progressive for most everyone else, and far too serious lyrically for the average fan used to bands singing about girls, drugs and rock and roll. Vigilante’s pink cover with a unicorn probably didn’t help the cause either! Added to that, the albums varied wildly in sound. Taking a 5 album range in the late 80s/early 90s, Storyteller’s Night was English pomp, Vigilante was pop rock with big Queen-influenced backing vocals, Wings of Heaven was commercial hard rock with progressive leanings, Goodnight LA was the record company’s attempt to make the Magnum sound palatable for commercial radio (aka diluted Magnum), and Sleepwalking was fairly laid-back AOR. Still, all those elements (British pomp, pop-rock, melodic hard rock, AOR, and progressive leanings) combined for a very unique sound. People either got it and loved it, or couldn’t care less. To survive 40 years, it’s obvious enough people “got it” to make the band viable.

The post-reunion albums, for the most part, have been their own animal. While there have been throwbacks to the classic Magnum sound (All My Bridges and Wild Angels standing out), many of the newer albums have gone further from the pop sound with fewer anthem-styled choruses and closer to the progressive tempo-changing style, along with being more straight-forward both lyrically and musically. That said, each new album has verged closer and closer to that commercial Magnum sound where the band found the most success.

Unlike many bands from that era, Magnum have been very prolific since reforming, and have forced the audience to move forward with them. So, onwards to album #16…On the 13th Day.

SONG BY SONG

After an extended intro, All the Dreamers kicks off with a slow to mid-tempo rock burner which lifts a bit for the chorus and wouldn’t sound out of place on any of the post-reunion albums. It has that post-reunion sound all over it.
Blood Red Laughter kicks off with a guitar riff that explodes into the commercial hard rock with a big chorus. A real feel-good song with a very revitalized sounding Magnum. This should go over really well live.
Didn’t Like You Anyway is an interesting song. Neither a ballad nor a straight rock song, this medium slow paced pomp song is a very biting take lyrically on the corporate world. The song rises a bit for the chorus with a bit of urgency. Fairly original sound also. Pretty cool.
On the 13th Day, the song, starts off with some very Journey-ish moody guitar work from Tony Clarkin before busting into your classic Magnum rocker. A mid-tempo verse gives way to big harmony backing vocals as the bridge gives way to a hard rock chorus.
So Let It Rain starts with a rather rough low-pitched vocal from Bob Catley before turning into the most commercial pop-rock song Magnum has recorded in a very long time with a huge chorus. Very old-school Magnum, and the first single from the album.
In complete contrast, Dance of the Black Tatoo starts with maybe the heaviest guitar riff heard in Magnum since Kingdom of Madness and a menacing vocal from Catley. Think of a heavier version of Black Skies from The Visitation with a bigger chorus.
Shadow Town is back to the Wings of Heaven pop -rock sound, with a mid-tempo verse giving way to a big Magnum-styled chorus. Similar in style to Wild Angels, and a big album highlight.
Putting Things in Place is a slow, haunting ballad about loss with a really classy and soulful Bob Catley vocal and a subdued chorus.
Broken Promises is a track I’m still trying to get my head around. A slow verse transforms into a rock chorus with a bit of that Rock Art guitar sound. Not sure it really has the impact it should have with the modern Magnum sound, while being surrounded by a bunch of classic-Magnum sounding songs.
See How They Fall is the real surprise of the album. A chugging guitar sound opens into this big riff that is straight out of the All England’s Eyes/Endless Love songbook. The chorus could have been even bigger, but this is the Storyteller’s Night anthem pomp sound that hasn’t been heard from Magnum in a very long time. Perfect contender for the opening song to the album, and sure to be a live favorite.
From Within is mid-tempo AOR that would have fit in on the Sleepwalking album. The woah-ohs on the chorus go into overdrive near the end lifting this classy laid-back ending song.

And so endeth the regular version of the album, but there is also a 2cd limited edition with some extra songs.

Those Were the Days kicks off cd 2 with a demo from the 1988-89 era. The bridge should be familiar to fans of the Goodnight LA album, as it was re-used on Heartbroke & Busted. For the most part though, this is a new mid-tempo AOR song that could best be described as a slightly-slower paced nostalgia-flavored version of C’est La Vie, a b-side from the Wings of Heaven album. I dare say it’s better than some of the songs that made the Goodnight LA album but, at the same time, I’m not surprised it was left off.
Next up is Eyes Like Fire, which previously appeared as a video track on The Visitation album as a work-in-progress in the studio song. By fan request, is here in the full version. Commercial Magnum pop rock with a huge chorus that really should have been included on the last album.
Also on track are acoustic versions of Blood Red Laughter and Shadow Town. While the songs are nice, the grand scale of the Magnum songwriting style tends to lose something when you bring it down to acoustic. Cool for the fans however.
The other two songs are live versions of We All Need to Be Loved (from Rock Art) and The Moonking (from Into the Valley of the Moonking) that were recorded on the Visitation tour. Magnum have always been a good live band, and nothing really changes here. It’s obvious that several shows were recorded, so it would be nice to post a complete show for download for the fans, since there’s a bunch of stuff just sitting in the vaults from The Visitation tour alone—especially since the band is known to play a bunch of the post-reformation material live.
And that’s the bonus cd. Nothing really earth-shattering, but a nice little gift for the hardcore fans of the band.


SUMMARY THOUGHTS AND RANDOM RUMINATIONS

Over the years, I’ve come to accept that post-reunion Magnum is a different band, and there is a divide between the old and the new, just as there was pre and post Storyteller’s Night. Throughout the many style changes from album to album, Magnum had an impeccable run in the 80s and early 90s. Storytellers, Vigilante, Wings of Heaven, and Sleepwalking are classics for me (and all feature a different sound), and the others, while having some faults, are nothing to sneeze at. While I have enjoyed a lot of the post-reformation cds, there seems to be that spark that was missing for me to take it from “good” to “great”. I’m don't see many songs I would call fillers, but likewise not many songs that I would call classics. Solid, but not spectacular would be a way of saying it. I don’t think I’m alone on this feeling either. Things have been changing in the Magnum camp for the better, however, starting with The Visitation, which is the first album since the reformation that I've loved.

This is by far the closest to the mid 80s Magnum sound of any of the post-reunion albums, and therefore, the best “bridge” between that sound and the post-reformation sound of the band. It’s also probably the most commercial album since Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow. Many of the progressive leanings have been lessened for more straight-forward commercial songs, and some of those grandiose Magnum choruses are starting to rear their heads again.

There are elements from most parts of the Magnum sound here, but if you mix the post-reunion sound with a healthy dose of the Vigilante/Wings of Heaven sound, you are getting close to the new cd. It’s certainly not a carbon-copy of the old stuff, and it shouldn’t be, but with every new cd, they get a little bit closer to finding that niche of what made Magnum great without simply spitting out a regurgitation of 80s Magnum rewrites. I believe that’s called progress—and that’s a good thing. There’s still life left in Magnum, and unlike most bands, they seem to be getting better with each album. That post-reunion masterpiece album hasn’t been written yet, but they are getting closer. In the meantime, this should keep the fans well satisfied. Nicely done guys.]]> Kevin NoticeboardSun, 30 Sep 2012 15:13:49 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913585#msg-913585 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,913585,913585#msg-913585Questions for regular Al Barrow:

What are the guys/your thoughts on the new album - compared to the other recent outputs?

It sure sounds like a step more towards classic Magnum and a little more melodic/commercial sounding, which many of us have felt Tony's avoided on purpose lately. So, my question is, is it deliberate to please fans or is it something the band really wanted and just a question of getting it right this time?

I hear differences in terms of production between tracks . . . am I totally off here or are they recorded differently/on different occasions?

My own thoughts:

I sat down this evening in front of my home stereo with a glass of Caol Ila (for the interested, it's scotch I won in a golf tournament and I'm really struggling with it) and had a serious listening session. Played the whole album from start to finish.

I can safely say that it's the best Magnum album since at least Wings Of Heaven, in my humble opinion. It's got everything and I love all songs included, which is a really rare thing for me.

As stated both here on the board and in Andrew's review, there a hints of all classic Magnum eras/albums and all ingredients are there.

The songs seem more worked and thought out this time around and there a subtle differences that highlights parts of the songs that I've missed on the other reunion albums. Like the doubled vocals (harmonizer) on Bob's voice in "Putting Things In Place" and like the choir in "From Within", the space between the instuments and how the songs breathe (perfectly explained by other posters in recent thread), the rhythmic fills by Tony on some songs not just basic riffs (reminds me of Storyteller's Night) etc. etc.

By far the most varied album in terms of both tempo and style of the reunion albums.

There's also a more chiseled out and distinct bass and bottom end on the disc than before. Sounds fantastic (great job Al)!

The choruses are better and standout more . . . but they could've been even bigger with more added background vocals/harmonies on some occasions.

The ballad is the best they've done in years and I can hear Vigilante all over it and some of the songs are more commercial sounding and melodic than we've heard Magnum in many, many years.

With some slight changes in production, I would've given it 100% but it's not perfect so I agree with Andrew's score on this one. :-)

The main beef I have is the drums. The snare and hi-hat is too crashy/splashy for my taste and too prominent in some songs. Works better in some but overall it annoys me a little. It reminds me of how the drums sound on a badly ripped 128 kbps MP3 file (exaggerating on purpose just to explain). Don't know if Harry is to blame here, though he is a very stiff drummer in my opinion, bacause it's more a sound thing for me than the style of the drummer. The sound however makes me very aware of the quite boring beats.

Overall, a fantastic album and really looking forward to more music from this marvelous band and I love the fact that it's kept to 11 great tracks instead of filling it out with less excellent songs. I have no huge problem with the track running order either to be honest, which have been discussed here.

Favourite songs on the disc at the moment, in order:

See How They Fall
From Within
On The 13th Day
Shadow Town
Didn't Like You Anyway
Blood Red Laughter
Putting Things In Place
So Let It Rain
Dance Of The Black Tattoo
All The Dreamers
Broken Promises


// Figge]]> Figge NoticeboardSun, 30 Sep 2012 07:03:09 +1000