ESCAPE FROM THE SHADOW GARDEN

I am so glad to see Magnum going on in the year 2014, almost 40 years since their inception. Having moved to the SPV label for over a decade now, Magnum seem like they can go on forever producing new albums and touring. In fact, three members of the band that produced the legendary 80's albums are still here - Tony Clarkin, Bob Catley and Mark Stanway. "Escape From The Shadow Garden" is their 17th studio offering and comes with stunning artwork, yet again designed by Rodney Matthews.

Musically, there is not much that the Magnum fan would not expect: melodic AOR, pompous at times with a number of ballad-like moments. The sound is pristine, the production flawless, Catley's vocals and Clarkin's riffs seem they can survive in time. Having stopped tracking the style of the band since the mid-80's albums, I was not surprised not to find anything remotely related to prog rock - these days have long gone; in fact, probably as back as in 1983.

The opening solid rockers 'Live 'Til You Die' (Saxon's 747 anyone?) and 'Unwritten Sacrifice' (probably the best song of the album) raise the stakes and leave promises for a strong follow-up. Though the next 2-3 tracks remain in the hard rocking AOR vein - the mid-tempo 'Crying in the Rain' and the rock 'n roll 'Too Many Clowns' - the album sadly gradually declines to cliche melodies and from halfway on to exceptionally high levels of unneeded balladry. 'Burning River' somehow saves the day, introducing the 80's AOR sound of the band in a solid hard rocking tempo and a signature refrain melody by Catley.

Overall, this album will probably not disappoint the fans and can be listened through fairly pleasantly, with the exception of the uninteresting mellower numbers. If you enjoy melodic AOR, then you might find some interesting moments; otherwise, make sure you escape the Shadow Garden. Still, it's got its moments but probably not worth more than 2.5 stars when looked as a whole.

Best moments (in which Stanway also shows his quality): Live 'Til You Die, Unwritten Sacrifice, Burning River

Is this a prog record? No, its probably not even prog related! But as it is here on the PA, let me give it a quick review

Having a soft spot for Magnum since I bought"On a storytellers night" many many years ago (on vinyl), I have been a loyal supporter and have bought most of their albums.

On "Escape from the Shadow Graden" the collective known as Magnum does, what they do best: deliver flawless bombastic melodic hard rock with beautiful melodies and hook lines. Nothing new, nothing revolutionary. But do we Magnum fans actually want something different? Well, sometimes I hope they write another song like "Soldier on the line", "How far Jerusalem" or "Don't wake the lion" (those three pieces are for me the most proggy songs they did), but those short bombastic melodic rock songs are delivered so brilliantly that every Magnum fan should feel happy and content with this latest offering (by the way Bob Cately who is 66 in the meantime still sounds fresh and young. How does he do this?).

Since days I can't get this CD out of my car's CD player which leave me with no choice and give a least 4 stars. ( Excellent addition to any , well maybe not prog, but melodic hard rock music collection)

'We're hopelessly confused/Wisdom's had its day' sings Bob Catley in one of the album's more balladic moments. This lyric seems to tie in visually with the cynical air of confusion which is also visually evident in the Rodney Mathews cover art and has been somewhat of a through-line for this prolific yet darker incarnation of Magnum since the band reformed in 2001.

There is nothing wrong with the music of course, it is solid and reliable as always. This is perhaps part of the problem. This is a band after all which honed a very unique stadium rock sound with gutsy, bravura vocals, smart lyrics and hooks abundant enough to cloak Tony Clarkin's entire collection of hats. The Magnum of old had a very positive, life-affirming quality to their music and while some of the themes were dark it was never overwhelmingly so. For the most part however, this album is a little bit leaner and less bludgeoning than the previous one (2012's 'On the 13th Day') and the occasional regurgitation of stock AOR riffery is broken up with a fresh integration of bubbling electronic synth passages and uplifting middle 8's ('Falling For the Big Plan' features some truly impassioned vocals from singer Bob Catley). 'Too Many Clowns' taps into the playful heavy rock found on the 1994 'Rock Art' album and offers some much needed respite from the themes of mortality and despair while 'Midnight Angel' treats its dark lyrical matter with subtle, ambient keyboard textures which sounds refreshing.

'Don't Fall Asleep' conversely seems to herald the album's second half which slides back into comfortable heavy rock and lament-filled ballad territory.

For the most part, this album from Magnum continues along the same path mapped out from the punchy rock sound of 'Brand New Morning' but delivers a handful of surprises in the arrangements to energise the tried and tested formula.