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"Magnum celebrates its fifty years of existence with this "The Monster Roars", less remarkable than "The Serpent Kiss" but still worth the trip."
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4/5
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Magnum chose to release their 22nd album in 2022, the year of their 50th anniversary. This survivor of the 70's, guardian of a British melodic rock, has never really reached the status of a major band, but it has nevertheless a consequent army of followers. This dinosaur still has resources and stories to tell us, and the title of his new album, "The Monster Roars", seems to reassure us that he still wants to fight.
Bob Catley, 74 years old frontman, and Tony Clarkin, the band's composer one year older, have been at the helm since the beginning. The band has remained stable since the last production of the combo, "The Serpent Kiss", which was very appreciated by the fans. It is thus with pleasure that we find Dennis Ward (ex-Pink Cream 69) on bass. Now firmly integrated in the band, the impact of his four-string is undeniable. This must not displease Clarkin who decided to harden the tone here. The keyboards being, moreover, less preponderant than usual because they are used alone rather than supporting the structures, "The Monster Roars" seems darker than its elders.
This one begins however very gently with the eponymous title which evokes a monster coming to haunt the nightmares of the children. However, the band does not take long to let go of the horses on a biting chorus. As usual, it is a majestic and epic song, but it is also particularly strong. The same goes for 'Remember' which develops a joyful chorus, ends with a classical piano solo, and deals with the birth of Magnum. The first three tracks of the work take us back to the albums of the 80's, and more particularly to "The Eleventh Hour!". And, it will surprise few fans, they are the best on the album. The rest of the opus is more in line with what the combo has been offering since they reformed in 2002, seven years after their split.
The nine other tracks show that the band still likes to vary the atmospheres. 'I Won't Let You Down' reminds us the importance of friends and fills the listener with emotions and 'Your Blood Is Violence' varies the atmospheres and offers a final all in accelerations. These three quarters of album represent what the band proposes these last twenty years. So, the pleasure is there, but it is rivaled by the regret that the English didn't insist on the return to the blessed years that the first three tracks of this "The Monster Roars" seemed to promise us.
Less remarkable than "The Serpent Kiss", this new offering is still worth the trip. Let's take advantage of the perseverance of Magnum that has brought us so many auditory satisfactions for fifty years. The monster is still alive, for our greatest pleasure. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. The Monster Roars - 3:57 02. Remember - 5:05 03. All You Believe In - 5:01 04. I Won't Let You Down - 3:57 05. The Present Not The Past - 5:27 06. No Steppin' Stones - 3:57 07. That Freedom Word - 4:52 08. Your Blood Is Violence - 6:44 09. Walk The Silent Hours - 4:51 10. The Day After The Night Before - 4:23 11. Come Holy Men - 5:01 12. Can't Buy Yourself Heaven - 5:00
LINEUP:
Bob Catley: Chant Dennis Ward: Basse Lee Morris: Batterie Rick Benton: Claviers Tony Clarkin: Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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Encouragé par Lynott, j'ai tenté la descente du Magnum : difficile d'avoir un avis très tranché sur le groupe et sa création: d'un côté des musicos expérimentés (du 3eme âge quand même !) qui ne lâchent pas le morceau et de l'autre des compositions très variables, qualitativement parlant..si Wikipédia classe Magnum plutôt dans le rock prog, j'ai tendance à dire que c'est le un peu le "Kansas du pauvre" sans le violon, avec tout le respect que je dois aux géants américains... bien sûr,ce n'est pas foncièrement mauvais mais si parfois on a envie de presser sur avance rapide, c'est parce que souvent l'ennui pointe le bout de son nez pour plusieurs raisons : Les intros se ressemblent pas mal : le piano amoroso suivi du petit riff de guitare pas trop saturé... Dès qu'il y a un break ou plutôt un pont,la sortie ou le redémarrage est très souvent calamiteux : là où on s'attend à la reprise de la guitare et solo, ya souvent rien ( mais que fait le gratteux ?) Enfin, même si le chanteur ne démérite pas, je trouve son timbre trop transparent ( à mon goût !) pour m'embarquer dans son voyage.. Je suis tout à fait conscient qu'à 74 ans réaliser une production de ce niveau est une entreprise que peu de musiciens seraient capables d'accomplir, cependant il me manque ce petit truc en plus ...je salue donc le boulot mais décidément je n'accroche pas...
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READERS
3.8/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.7/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH MAGNUM
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT MAGNUM
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