Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Magnum
Label: SPV Records
Release: 2015
Running time: 74:19
Rating: 3.5/5
English art rock/melodic rock heavyweights Magnum were in the middle of a European tour in 2014, promoting their latest studio album »Escape From The Shadow Garden« (2014). It scored a string of unexpected and welcome successes and was even their highest-charting album on the home, British charts since »Sleepwalking« (1992), which is undeniably no small feat. The 2014 Magnum tour rested on a setlist that didn’t change much from show to show, and the first part of the set leaned on newer material from the last three studio albums. That means that besides a selection of »Escape From The Shadow Garden« material, they also played a few »On The 13th Day« (2012) and »The Visitation« (2011) standards.
That also means that out of the eighteen Magnum studio albums released so far, they picked songs from just seven records. While putting together their latest live album »Escape From The Shadow Garden – Live 2014«, they somehow ‘forgot’ about plenty of near-forgotten masterpieces from different chapters of their history. The second half of this live recording is devoted to the ‘iron-clad’ repertoire, meaning the ‘steel-plated’ evergreens »How Far Jerusalem«, »Les Morts Dansant«, »All England’s Eyes«, »Vigilante« and the big finale, »Kingdom Of Madness«, so there are no major surprises among them. It has to be said that the vocals of the still hugely charismatic but already rather aged Bob Catley have been little more than a shadow of his former glory over the last few years. The most devoted fans, who always help out with the singing, will easily forgive him, though, while the rest, the ‘less loyal’ fans of Magnum’s rich discography, may find it quite bothersome. The technical execution and sound quality of the recordings are, as expected, top-notch, which goes especially for the solo feats of tireless guitar veteran Tony Clarkin and keyboard master Mark Stanway, who are still holding their own against the ‘ravages of time’ very well when it comes to virtuosity.
If you don’t mind that half of »Escape From The Shadow Garden – Live 2014« leans on newer material, or that Catley’s best singing days are long behind him, you’ll get plenty of seriously enjoyable listening out of this solid Magnum live recording. It’s been eight years since the previous Magnum live album »Wings Of Heaven Live«, and they could surely have offered something more than a relatively predictable and cautious setlist for the new ‘live’ outing. On the other hand, hats off to them: after so many miles on the clock, ups and downs, a breakup and a reunion, they still stay true to themselves and to their fans, among whom, thanks to the quality releases of recent years, there are surely a few younger faces too.
Lineup
Bob Catley – vocals
Tony Clarkin – guitar
Mark Stanway – keyboards
Al Barrow – bass guitar
Harry James – drums
Production
Tony Clarkin
Track list
1. Live ‘til You Die
2. Black Skies
3. Freedom Day
4. Dance of the Black Tattoo
5. Blood Red Laughter
6. Unwritten Sacrifice
7. How Far Jerusalem
8. Les Morts Dansant
9. Falling For the Big Plan
10. All England’s Eyes
11. Vigilante
12. Kingdom of Madness
