Magnum – Lost On The Road To Eternity Review

Magnum became a role model for a genre that ignored all trends with its down-to-earth approach....

Label: Steamhammer/SPV

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: January 19th, 2017

 

Line Up:

Tony Clarkin – Guitars
Bob Catley – Vocals
Al Barrow – Bass
Harry James – Drums
Rick Benton – Keyboards

 

Tracklist:

Peaches and Cream
Show Me Your Hands
Storm Baby
Welcome to the Cosmic Cabaret
Lost on the Road to Eternity
Without Love
Tell Me What You’ve Got to Say
Ya Wane Be Someone
Forbidden Masquerade
Glory to Ashes
King of the World
 

Introducing Magnum feels like carrying sand to the beach. I can’t imagine that there are fans of rock and metal that never heard at least the name of the British hard rock legend. Guitar wizard Tony Clarkin and singer Bob Catley began in 1972 and what followed was an impressive journey through rock that comprises many successes, highlight, and milestones. Magnum became a role model for a genre that ignored all trends with its down-to-earth approach.

My entry-point when it comes to Magnum was back in 1985 with the legendary “On a Storytellers Night”. Songs like “How Far Jerusalem”, Les Morts Dasants” and the title track pout a spell on me. Each of these tunes kept its fascination over all the years up to date and belong to the best British rock music brought up to surface.
Magnum never published an album that disappointed and even the “Rock Art” record, released right before the split, featured some well-crafted numbers.

After having gone on hiatus for almost one decade Magnum returned in the beginning of the new century. “Breath of Life” marked the beginning of a next chapter that turns out to be as successful as the earlier days. Records such as “Into the Valley of the Moonking” and “Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies’ are timeless masterpieces in melodic hard rock and the next strike, “Lost on the Road to Eternity”, doesn’t need to stand back behind the mentioned classics.

The 20th album features eleven new songs which reflect Magnum’s iconic sound with 100%. Actually, these tunes belong to the best I have heard from the band since may years with the excellent opener “Peaches and Cream” being one out of eleven pieces of pure ear-candy. Melody, a rocking beat and excellent vocals by Catley provide Magnum fans with all ingredients expected. “Show Me Your Hands” is the name of the next highlight, featuring some nice keyboard sequences, done by Rick Bento who recently joined the band. Talking about new band members; Lee Morris became Magnum’s new drummer, following Harry James who left the band in 2017.

Some first calmer notes can be listed to with “Storm Baby” before the tune builds up to a typical Magnum anthem. It’s hard to highlight some of the tunes since they are equally good. However, the title track is special, mainly due to a guest appearance. Magnum frontman Bob Catley is since many years a constant factor in Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia, enriching the epical songs with his brilliant voice. Now it was time to give something back, leading to Sammet sharing vocals with Catley. Both voices go together in a great fashion and it’s the soulful arrangements that give this song a real wow-factor.

What more? The single release “Without Love” belongs to the Champions League of rock and it’s “King of the World” acting as the Grande Finale of a superb piece of music.

Next, to the songs, it was always the artwork that made Magnum records immediately recognizable for fans. Also “Lost on the Road to Eternity” doesn’t change this pattern. It was Rodney Matthews who was responsible for an artwork that reflects Magnum’s mysterious world of fantasy and legendary creatures.

“Lost on the Road to Eternity” showcases a band that combines decades of experience, with a great sense for melodies and hooks, all kept together by a passion for melodic rock music. This album is jaw-dropping good.

 

Written by: Markus Wiedenmann

Ratings: 9/10

 

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