Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Magnum
Label: SPV Records
Release: 2012
Running time: 57:14
Rating: 4.5/5
Legendary English champions of melodic art rock Magnum are back with their sixteenth studio album in a row, titled »On The 13th Day«. The fantasy cover art from longtime collaborator and cult graphic designer Rodney Matthews, along with the return of the classic Magnum logo from their most successful era, hint before you even press play that the cult outfit is once again trying, musically, to revive the winning sonic formula that brought them worldwide fame in the eighties. This trend of blending retro Magnum elements with modern production has been going on, with more or less success, ever since the album »Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow« (2007).
»On The 13th Day« follows the established, well-tested Magnum songwriting formula, but with quite a few standout tracks that clearly prove the band was extremely inspired during the creative process this time around. The two pillars of their sound have been the same since the second half of the seventies, so it’s no surprise that charismatic singer Bob Catley, who is once again in superb vocal form, and unique guitarist/lyricist/main songwriter Tony Clarkin pull off their traditional duties with flying colors yet again. Clarkin’s lyrics once more cling to the long tradition of intelligent, socially critical preaching through fantasy »Dungeons & Dragons« metaphors. After the rather punchy and relatively complex predecessor »The Visitation« (2011), the melodic side of their sonic collage is emphasized a bit more again on most of the »On The 13th Day« tracks, which are mostly driven at a brisk tempo, while Mark Stanway’s symphonic arrangements are tinted a touch more subtly this time.
Funnily enough, »All The Dreamers«, which continues Magnum’s long-running habit of fiery, hard-hitting opening tracks, is the longest piece on the album at more than seven minutes. The slow build of dramatic atmosphere, with orchestral curtains being laid down, is once again nearly unavoidable until the moment Clarkin’s crushing guitar riff kicks in and Magnum openly flex their muscles for the first time on the album. As expected, Harry James’s massive drum fills are once again the main guarantee of hard rock elements in Magnum’s sonic collage. Calm and punchy moments often alternate neatly, while the high point of this exceptionally solid track is the epic chorus, into which Catley pours a heaping gallon of mighty emotion through his singing. »Blood Red Laughter« is a melodramatic energy catalyst that neatly keeps the energetic opening mood going. It’s built on a vivid piano arrangement and a full-bodied guitar riff, while Bob’s fully dramatized singing helps carry the whole thing to a combative chorus.
»Didn’t Like You Anyway« is a fairly average piece by usual Magnum standards, but it gradually grows in rhythmic intensity, while Clarkin’s classicist guitar riff weaves wonderfully with the central keyboard arrangement. The title track can already be declared a pure Magnum classic, since it’s a thoroughly retro eighties number and the top contender for the best song on the album. The main thing behind that is the extremely intense, epic atmosphere, led by a mighty chorus. Here Magnum slowly build the drama by kneading together bristling guitar passages, the subtle construction of dynamic synth textures and Catley’s brilliant vocal performance, until it peaks in a hyper-melodic chorus. On their last few studio efforts Magnum haven’t exactly been all that generous with this kind of melodic hook, so every time they manage to create a hypnotic anthem in the chorus, the listening pleasure is that much greater.
»So Let It Rain«, which also came out as a single, is a superb mid-tempo melodic power ballad with Catley’s wonderfully in-the-mood vocals, Clarkin’s fiery guitar phrases and tasteful Stanway orchestral flourishes in the background. Once again, a strikingly beautiful chorus wins you over, cleverly combined with a vivid symphonic arrangement and backing vocals. The hard-rock-tinged »Dance Of The Black Tattoo« buckles under the weight of distorted guitar passages and crushing drum fills, while Catley’s furious vocals slowly weave a tense mood. Clarkin’s epic guitar solo lifts the atmosphere of this interesting and as-punchy-as-it-gets track up at least a notch. »Shadow Town« has a triumphant melody built on the interplay of a refined symphonic arrangement and a dynamic guitar phrase, while Catley’s singing is once again the main guarantee of hypnotic epicness. It’s actually one of the most melodic and joyful-sounding tracks in the last few years, which deserves special praise.
The love-themed power ballad »Putting Things In Place« has a melodramatic, orchestral arrangement and an emotionally turbulent Catley vocal performance, while a calm tempo reigns throughout the song, with numerous subtle piano touches. »Broken Promises« has all the recognizable, classic Magnum sonic elements, led by a punchy guitar riff, melodic synth textures, creative drum fills and epic-minded singing, which means it’s one of those tracks on the album that will win over longtime fans’ hearts in an instant. »See How They Fall« is yet another punchy standard, set at a brisk tempo and surrounded by a whole host of dramatic orchestral arrangements, that could just as well have served as a very good, energetic album opener had they decided otherwise. Once again Magnum throw everything into a triumphant, epic chorus. The closing track, »From Within«, where Catley’s vocal is backed by a strong guitar phrase and epic symphonic arrangements, makes for an exceptionally fitting finale to perhaps even the best Magnum album in the last ten years.
»On The 13th Day« is a superb album that should easily delight most longtime fans of this legendary band, since it contains a good number of seriously inspired tracks while sticking to the proven Magnum sound-and-songwriting formula with which they created most of their best work in the eighties. Those who still expect a larger dose of majestic prog/arena rock elements or maybe pompous melodic rock anthems from Magnum on every album may be a little disappointed this time, because there aren’t many moments on »On the 13th Day« where either of those stylistic directions takes over. Instead, the cult quintet, backed by phenomenal production, chose to go for the ‘golden mean’, with no stylistic extremes, and in the end created an extremely well-balanced and excellent effort, with which Magnum continue the praiseworthy trend of quality studio releases that has been running ever since their return to the music scene in 2002.
Lineup
Bob Catley – vocals
Tony Clarkin – guitar, backing vocals
Mark Stanway – keyboards
Al Barrow – bass guitar
Harry James – drums
Production
Tony Clarkin
Tracklist
1. All The Dreamers (7:09)
2. Blood Red Laughter (4:40)
3. Didn’t Like You Anyway (4:33)
4. On The 13th Day (5:35)
5. So Let It Rain (4:50)
6. Dance Of The Black Tattoo 5.16
7. Shadow Town 5.57
8. Putting Things In Place 4.41
9. Broken Promises 4.55
10. See How They Fall 4.56
11. From Within 4.42
