Despite being practically unknown to the American listening public, Magnum has long held a place in my heart. Their unique brand of dark, progressive AOR first caught my ear in high school. Their last release, The Serpent Rings, was one of the first albums I ever reviewed for this webzine, mere days into its launch. Now, roughly two years later, the high priests of pomp have returned with their 22nd (!!!) studio album, The Monster Roars. The lineup for this album remains the same as last, featuring newcomer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Unisonic, Sunstorm) on bass, Lee Morris on drums, Rick Benton on keyboards, and co-founders Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin on vocals and guitars respectively.
For roughly the past decade of their career, Magnum has cranked out albums which draw both musically and thematically from their classic early 80s trilogy: Chase the Dragon (1982), The Eleventh Hour! (1983), and their magnum opus, On a Storyteller’s Night (1985). The Monster Roars continues this tradition, but also incorporates more polished and pop oriented moments, as heard on past albums Vigilante (1986) and Wings of Heaven (1988). This balance gives The Monster Roars an added layer of depth, bound to appeal to fans of both the cerebral and carefree alike.
The album’s opening title track kicks things off in classic Magnum fashion. We’ve got huge riffs, passionate vocals, and a soulful pianos coalescing in a sea of melodic melodrama. It’s a formula we’ve heard from this band time and time again, yet they continue to keep it fresh and relevant this late into their career. Other songs that follow this template include the gripping “Remember”, the progressively intricate “That Freedom Word”, and the bombastic “Come Holy Men”. In Magnum’s dream world, it’s to hell with the minimalist naysayers. More is more and that’s how they like it!
On the flipside of this coin are the aforementioned pop moments, which are most present on the album’s two advanced singles, “I Won’t Let You Down” and “No Steppin’ Stones”. When these songs were first released, even I wasn’t too sure about them. However, in the scope of the album as a whole, they fit right in. “I Won’t Let You Down” sees the band exploring the realms of modern pop rock, with a grandiose chorus reminiscent of Electric Light Orchestra. Meanwhile, “No Steppin’ Stones” is a lighthearted romp that could pass as a harder edged Huey Lewis and the News B side.
Aside from its lengthy running time (an issue I discussed when reviewing The Serpent Rings), I don’t have anything negative to say about The Monster Roars. It’s everything a Magnum fan could dream of and more. This isn’t a band chasing their past glories into their sunset years. This is a band who remains fired up as ever, pleasing headbangers with one elegant collection of theatrical rock n’ rollers after the next. Their roar is fierce and music even fiercer. Beware this monster.
8 out of 10
Label: Steamhammer
Genre: AOR
For fans of: Styx, Kansas, Pallas