{"id":23365,"date":"2012-10-31T05:23:32","date_gmt":"2012-10-31T10:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=23365"},"modified":"2013-02-05T16:30:13","modified_gmt":"2013-02-05T21:30:13","slug":"magnum-on-the-13th-day-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/magnum-on-the-13th-day-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Magnum | On the 13th Day<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Justin Gaines<\/span>
\n– News Editor —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Magnum\"Long running British melodic rockers Magnum are back with a new studio album, their 16th overall, titled On the 13th Day<\/em>. The band has been active since the mid \u201870s, has released a steady run of albums since reuniting a decade ago, and was one of the first bands to really define the \u201cpomp rock\u201d sound in the early \u201880s. The core of that classic Magnum lineup \u2013 vocalist Bob Catley, keyboardist Mark Stanway and of course guitarist\/songwriter Tony Clarkin \u2013 are still on board, as are bassist Al Barrow and drummer Harry James, who have been with the band since their 2002 reunion. On the 13th Day also marks the return of cover artist Rodney Matthews, whose artwork graced the covers of some of Magnum\u2019s most iconic releases in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

To get right to the point, On the 13th Day<\/em> is the finest album Magnum has released since they reunited a decade ago, and is arguably their best album since 1988\u2019s Wings of Heaven<\/em>. That\u2019s not a knock against any of Magnum\u2019s recent albums (or even the band\u2019s mostly overlooked \u201890s releases), all of which were quite good. On the 13th Day is just a level above the rest, and the first Magnum album in a while that feels like classic Magnum. Think of all the elements that defined Magnum\u2019s sound \u2013 the captivating and majestic melodies, the subtle but vital keyboards, the ethereal and unique vocals and the overall feeling of magic and mystery. All of those elements shine throughout On the 13th Day<\/em>. Tony Clarkin has always written songs that captured both the mundane and the mysterious, and that\u2019s true here. \u201cAll the Dreamers,\u201d \u201cSee How They Fall,\u201d even a more straightforward (and totally gorgeous) love song like \u201cSo Let It Rain\u201d sounds like it was written with one foot on Earth and the other in another world.<\/p>\n

Clarkin\u2019s melodies, when matched with Stanway\u2019s stirring and atmospheric keyboard work, ensure each song on the album sinks right into your head, but it\u2019s Bob Catley\u2019s unforgettable vocals that puts the songs in your heart. He\u2019s as brilliant on the heavier, more epic songs like \u201cBlood Red Laughter\u201d and \u201cOn the 13th Day\u201d as he is the lighter songs like the closer \u201cFrom Within.\u201d Now, all of this is what we\u2019ve come to expect from Magnum over the years, but it just seems like everything on this album \u2013 from the songwriting to the individual performances to the production \u2013 are more in sync for On the 13th Day<\/em>. Everything shines, and they all shine in perfect harmony, and the result is an album you\u2019ll keep coming back to time and time again, and songs that will stay with you long after the album stops spinning.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a serious Magnum fan, you probably don\u2019t need much encouragement to pick up a copy of this album. If you\u2019ve been less than enthusiastic about the band\u2019s output in recent years, however, On the 13th Day may be the album that makes you a believer again. For those melodic rock fans out there that haven\u2019t yet discovered Magnum, you\u2019re in for something special. You owe it to yourself to experience one of the most creative and unforgettable bands in the genre, and On the 13th Day is a great place to start.<\/p>\n

Edition Notes: There is a deluxe edition of On the 13th Day available (as a physical release only) that is housed in a digipack (within a slipcase) and features a second disc with six bonus tracks, including live, acoustic and demo recordings of recent Magnum songs. The real gem of the second disc is the demo \u201cThose Were the Days,\u201d which dates back to 1988-89. The album itself is fantastic enough; this version is the icing on the cake. <\/p>\n

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR, Pomp Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nBob Catley (v)
\nTony Clarkin (g) (v)
\nMark Stanway (k)
\nAl Barrow (b)
\nHarry James (d)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tAll the Dreamers
\n2.\tBlood Red Laughter
\n3.\tDidn\u2019t Like You Anyway
\n4.\tOn the 13th Day
\n5.\tSo Let It Rain
\n6.\tDance of the Black Tattoo
\n7.\tShadow Town
\n8.\tPutting Things In Place
\n9.\tBroken Promises
\n10.\tSee How They Fall
\n11.\tFrom Within<\/p>\n

Disc 2
\n1.\tThose Were the Days (demo)
\n2.\tEyes Like Fire (full version)
\n3.\tBlood Red Laughter (acoustic)
\n4.\tWe All Need to Be Loved (live)
\n5.\tShadow Town (acoustic)
\n6.\tMoonking (live)<\/p>\n

Label: SPV<\/p>\n

Website: www.magnumonline.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 9.25\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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