Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Magnum
Label: Sanctuary Records
Released: 1983
Rating: 4/5
After the excellent ”Chase The Dragon” (1982), which gave Magnum their first real breakthrough beyond the narrow core of their fans and brought melodic rock, NWOBHM and art rock lovers together under one roof, the pressure was inevitably on from their label at the time, Jet Records, to repeat that success or even top it. The label’s feverish hunger for radio hits only kept growing. A clash between the band and the label reps was unavoidable, with the label denying them the right to pick their own producer. So the band decided to walk away from the label’s dirty game and produce the album themselves. The main producer’s seat went to Tony Clarkin, the guitarist, writer of most of the music and lyrics, and the man in charge of the visual concepts.
That move led to a small but noticeable shift in their sound. “The Eleventh Hour” sounds clearly softer than “Chase The Dragon”, which was bursting with bombastic arrangements and heavy rock riffs. By comparison, the latter was almost a heavy metal record and noticeably under the influence of the new wave of British metal, whereas “The Eleventh Hour” is an almost entirely melodic rock/AOR affair.
Apart from the first-rate AOR anthem “Hit And Run” and the epic closing treat “Road To Paradise”, it doesn’t have as many classics or favorites as most of their 80s albums. On the other hand, it’s an exceptionally consistent record that grabs you from start to finish. Magnum had polished their knack for crafting supremely tasty melodic arrangements and infectious choruses even further, with plenty of heavy rock muscle still in the mix — they just held back a bit on the bombast this time. Clarkin’s trademark sharpened guitar riffs and Mark Stanway’s keyboard palettes work together in perfect harmony as always, while Catley’s vocals keep delivering dramatic, energetic expression across a whole range of emotions.
Clarkin, a big fan of legendary tales and a fierce opponent of the horrors of war, channeled his views into a pretty chilling cover painted by cult illustrator Rodney Matthews. It shows his apocalyptic vision of human society, where the symbols of mythology and capitalism are merged in a scary, rather bizarre combination. On the front of the sleeve we see an apparition wearing a false mask of kindness, surrounded by all the symbols of brutal materialism and rationalism, sitting on a throne with a dollar sign and trying to win over tormented children, while the back cover shows futuristic jets and shark-shaped missile tips in the middle of a ravaged landscape. Pacifism runs through most of the lyrics too, vividly pointing out the senselessness of war and the preciousness of human life, usually wrapped up carefully in the cellophane of mythological metaphors.
The first dose of quality AOR arrives right with the mid-tempo opener “The Prize”, marked by juicy riffing, a standout vocal performance and a synth bed that adapts nicely underneath. “Breakdown” is another solid slice of melodic rock, built at a slower tempo with good melodic arrangements. The gorgeous power ballad “The Great Disaster” is a splendid showcase for Catley’s incredible vocal abilities, as the great singer really pours his whole heart into it. The backing vocal harmonies in the chorus add a special charm as well. The very good “Vicious Companions” is an interesting cross between AOR and heavy rock, with punchy riffing, massive drum fills, a galloping bass line and a solid foundation of symphonic synth textures. It also has its charm in an excellent arena rock chorus and a tasty synth solo.
“So Far Away” has everything that makes Magnum the champions of mystic-tinged melodic rock: lyrics full of fantasy-flavored metaphors, witty and punchy guitar riffing, excellent rhythmic shifts and tasteful baroque keyboard arrangements. “Hit And Run” is a real AOR fairy tale, with an intro of acoustic guitar chords that wins you over. Then comes an unpredictable transition and majestic, symphonic-tinged melodic arrangements, backed by a mighty chorus that will have every lover of top-notch melodic rock licking their lips. It’s a bit of a shock that this magnificent track never became a hit. Next up is another good power ballad, “One Night Of Passion”, where Catley once again delivers a heart-wrenching performance, supported by grand arrangements of piano, synths and razor-sharp guitar passages.
Interestingly, from here the album takes on a noticeably faster and punchier tempo than in its first half. The epic “The Word”, which came out on the B-side of the single for their biggest hit “Just Like An Arrow”, could easily have sat on “Chase The Dragon” too, thanks to its punchy riffing, fast tempo and mighty drum fills. “Young And Precious Souls” is an even more epic number, distinguished by splendid, wonderfully subtle acoustic guitar arrangements, harmonic passages on keyboards and electric guitar, an exceptionally melancholic mood and one of the best vocal performances of Catley’s career. The closing “Road To Paradise” is without a doubt a Magnum classic and maybe even the best track on the album, since it contains all the band’s best elements while already hinting at the more dramatic and epic direction of their next record. It’s a first-class treat for all fans of epic music and dramatic instrumental passages, where the best elements of AOR, heavy metal and art rock come together in perfect proportion, and Catley once more proves himself one of the best tellers of epic sagas in rock music.
“The Eleventh Hour” is nothing more and nothing less than a very good melodic rock album, with the bad luck of being squeezed between the superior icebreaker “Chase The Dragon” and the definitive evergreen Magnum masterpiece “On A Storyteller’s Night” (1985), which completely overshadowed it. That thankless position means it often gets unfairly overlooked even among melodic rock fans. Regardless, it’s a splendid album that will always thrill fans of top-shelf AOR the most, while leaving lovers of their prog rock roots a bit colder. Considering that the moment of their greatest creative and commercial triumph wasn’t far off from here, it works nicely as a subtle lull before the eruption of near-perfection.
Lineup
Bob Catley – vocals
Tony Clarkin – guitar
Wally Lowe – bass
Mark Stanway – keyboards
Kex Gorin – drums
Production
Tony Clarkin
Track list
1. The Prize (3:39)
2. Breakdown (3:59)
3. The Great Disaster (3:46)
4. Vicious Companions (3:36)
5. So Far Away (4:35)
6. Hit and Run (3:39)
7. One Night Of Passion (3:48)
8. The Word (4:54)
9. Young and Precious Souls (4:03)
10. Road To Paradise (3:30)
Album length: 39:38
