KINGDOM OF MADNESS

When I was sixteen, I listened to the newly released Magnum's third album Chase The Dragon. I concluded that Magnum is a mediocre band that does not deserve my attention at all (I was already deeply into Genesis, ELP, Yes, Eloy, Jethro Tull, Wakeman etc that time). A few months later, a classmate gave me for listening a cassette with two albums (taped from another cassette) by an unknown band, with no indication on it - no artist name, no album title or release year. The music was great. I had no idea what band it could be, just supposed that the music was released circa 1978-1979 (later it turned out I was right) and the band was from US (later it turned out I was wrong), due to some similarity to Kansas in some melody making techniques, the drummer's playing manner etc. Many years later, I suddenly discovered by chance that those two unidentified recordings on the old unmarked cassette were the first two albums by Magnum, Kingdom Of Madness and Magnum II. I would never have guessed myself! Both were absolutely unlike the trite and tacky straight FM rock from Chase The Dragon. As for Kingdom Of Madness, I'd say it's slightly raw but exceptionally promising hard prog, musically not too far from Kansas circa 1977-1982. There's no long epic here, only short tracks, but some of them follow in the non-stop mode, especially Invasion, Lords Of Chaos and All Come Together, de facto forming an epic suite. Though Magnum is one of the most long surviving and prolific bands in the history of rock, to me it became an artist of two albums. In later years, the band learnt very well how to make a good commercial product, but completely forgot how to compose and arrange good music.