Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Magnum
Label: SPV Records
Release: 2016
Length: 54:26
Rating: 4/5
»Sacred Blood »Divine« Lies« is the nineteenth studio album from British prog/melodic rock greats Magnum, who have been enjoying a real renaissance of newfound popularity on home turf in recent years. Not long after its release, »Sacred Blood »Divine« Lies« has in fact already outdone the commercial success of its predecessor »Escape From The Shadow Garden« (2014) and become Magnum’s highest-charting album in the UK since »Sleepwalking« (1992). Sure, Magnum have long been anything but spring chickens in this business, charismatic singer Bob Catley’s voice is pretty worn by now, and they honestly haven’t come up with anything particularly innovative in ages, but this kind of success is more than deserved. Despite those aforementioned woes, their studio output since returning to the scene in 2002 stands out for its remarkable consistency, with the lion’s share of credit going to the songwriting of the band’s unofficial boss, guitarist Tony Clarkin, who has more or less stayed true all these years to his original Magnum sonic vision: a band that builds bridges between melodic rock, hard rock and prog rock, which is why you can’t just lazily slot them into a single genre.
»Sacred Blood »Divine« Lies« is, much like its predecessor, built exactly to the wishes of the longtime faithful, who pretty much know by now what to expect from the modern incarnation of Magnum, which alongside veterans Catley, Clarkin and keyboardist Mark Stanway has also featured bassist Al Barrow and drummer Harry James for a good while. The album cover and logo were once again designed by an old collaborator, the famed graphic artist Rodney Mattews, who was behind all of Magnum’s best sleeves in the past. Magnum have been welcoming his services back since 2006, when they became confident enough to revive a hefty chunk of the triumphant atmosphere of the eighties, fantasy-themed covers included. Don’t go looking for any big musical surprises on this album, which is nonetheless a bit different from its kindred and equally decent predecessor. Magnum swear by the tried-and-tested melodic/heavy/prog rock formula, ‘blessed’ with a modern production, which is a cautious approach, sure, but at their age, having long since stopped fretting over hits and sonic experiments, it’s a somewhat logical one.
The album opens with the title track, where a somewhat rawer sound than you’d usually expect from Magnum comes as a surprise, with Clarkin’s guitar tuned lower, partly because of Catley’s frayed vocals. What saves the song from mediocrity is a very good, multi-voiced chorus, which remains one of Magnum’s main weapons for conjuring up epic moods and is fully on par with their past classics. The power ballad »Crazy Old Mothers« provides an effective contrast, pulling it off with an opening piano solo and lavish symphonic arrangements that will delight every fan of Stanway’s keyboard feats. Once again the backing vocals cover for Catley right when it’s needed most, so the melodic chorus hits with maximum effect. At his best, Catley sounds like the ‘good old Uncle Bob’ fans know from Magnum’s finest records, while at his worst his voice sounds like it’s been thoroughly worn down by one too many cigarettes. Next comes a direct segue into a somewhat harder-rocking tune, »Gypsy Queen«, one of the more interesting moments on the album, where a symphonic intro gives way to a fun transition into a pompous section driven by a fiery guitar riff and crowned with an epic chorus.
»Princess In Rags (The Cult)«, with its ‘retro’ synth sound and dramatic central arrangement with a baroque touch, sounds a lot like some Magnum track from the late eighties, and the multi-voiced chorus especially stands out. »Your Dreams Won’t Die« is a typical Magnum uplifting ballad with solemn symphonic arrangements and a positive vibe and message, while the triumphant chorus is once again delivered in the tried-and-true, ‘old-school’ way that will delight all the longtime fans. »Afraid Of The Night« is a fairly dynamic number with plenty of tempo shifts and atmospheric changes, and Stanway’s rich symphonic arrangements deserve a special mention. Overall, his keyboard presence is far more noticeable than on »Escape From The Shadow Garden«. »A Forgotten Conversation« is stuffed with epic passages and bombastic melodies and, solid as it is, doesn’t really stand out in any way. The pompous »Quiet Rhapsody« turns out far more interesting, and thanks to its mighty guitar phrases, intriguing percussion effects, rich harmonies and a commendable vocal performance from Catley, it’s one of the album’s best moments. The same goes for the melodic rock treat »Twelve Men Wise And Just«, which boasts a brilliant chorus, plus a symphonic intro and the obligatory shift into a dramatic section with a galloping rhythm, tasteful keyboard textures and a just-right committed vocal performance. The epic farewell »Don’t Cry Baby« makes for a lovely, decent closer to the album, with a surprising piano solo in the middle section.
Brimming with youthful verve, »Sacred Blood »Divine« Lies« is clear proof that Magnum, even though their best creative moments are long behind them, are far from being written off. Some will accuse the album of playing it safe and being predictable, but that raises a serious question: why on earth would Magnum, who got burned every time they tried to change their sound too much in the past, swap out a successful sonic formula in their old age? Compared to its predecessor, »Sacred Blood »Divine« Lies« even marks a slight step forward, with fewer ballads and Stanway noticeably more active in building up the symphonic lushness, so the album as a whole leaves an extremely positive impression. It’s also great to see Magnum slowly starting to get more love on home turf in Britain, especially after all the huge effort they had to put in before they won back the respect of their demanding homegrown fans, as well as of everyone who only recently discovered what good music is and stopped listening to all that corporate nonsense with a one-day shelf life.
Lineup
Bob Catley – vocals
Tony Clarkin – guitar
Mark Stanway – keyboards
Al Barrow – bass
Harry James – drums
Production
Tony Clarkin
Tracklist
1. Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies (6:41)
2. Crazy Old Mothers (5:48)
3. Gypsy Queen (4:29)
4. Princess In Rags (The Cult) (5:27)
5. Your Dreams Won’t Die (5:25)
6. Afraid Of The Night (4:32)
7. A Forgotten Conversation (4:56)
8. Quiet Rhapsody (5:40)
9. Twelve Men Wise And Just (6:18)
10. Don’t Cry Baby (5:05)
