ABSINTHÉÏSME

The third offering from Magnesis.

I did review their first two albums some time ago. Two years ago or thereabout to be more precise. I have just read the review again.

Magnesis is a bit of an oddity in the scene. Their sound is very much like Ange, but they have their own style and goes their own way. Don't be fooled by the references to Marillion. Magnesis is doing their own take on Neo Prog.

Ange has been mentioned as a reference and I can also mention a lot of French symph groups. Magnesis is very much in that French theatrical prog genre. They have not changed vocalist since I complained about the vocals on the first two albums though. The vocals on this album though is great. Eric Tillerot sings with a clarity and conviction I admire on this album. The rest of the music is pretty laid back and based on tangents and guitars. Mostly acoustic guitars, it has to be said.

There are no real great tracks here. Neither is there any real weak tracks either. The overall quality is good and I am really enjoying this album. Or let me add; I have had far worse experiences in ProgArchives than listening to this album. Fans of Genesis, Atoll, Mona Lisa and Ange should take note of Magnesis and this album. A good album, it is.

3 stars

The mid-90's find Magnesis in a transition period.No more or less the third studio work of the band would be a collaboration between guitarist Pascal Maitre and singer Eric Tillerot, who also handled the bass and acoustic guitars along with the keyboard programming.They were helped by Pascal Gargallo on drums with a few appearances by Jean Pierre Matelot on keyboards and Roxanne and Martine-Magali Geneve on choirs.The album with the title ''Absintheisme'' was privately released in 1995.

Despite being mostly a work by a duo, ''Absintheisme'' is slightly better than the previous full- band work of Magnesis.Their sound is dominated by the strong ANGE and MONA LISA influences with a fresh sound,that is dramatic and over-theatrical lyrical content performed under grandiose Neo/Symphonic Rock arrangements with some haunting atmospheres.The sound is much synth-driven, based on flashy keyboard solos with a MARILLION-esque/DEYSS touch or even delivered with a symphonic edge supported by the guitar work,which is quite strong both on the rhythmic and solo parts with a sense of melody.Additionally Tillerot voice seems stronger than ever with a good balance between the melodramatic approach and the sensitive chords.Magnesis seems to be on the right path,the compositions have great alternations between mellow romantic parts and emphatic grandiose passages with also a fair amount of acoustic textures.

With ''Absintheisme'' Magnesis return back to the fine musicianship of their debut, being a balanced work of Theatrical Symphonic Rock and modern Neo Prog with quite a few impressive parts without though being an exceptional or even more a grounbreaking entry. Warmly recommended.