ESCAPE FROM THE SHADOW GARDEN

'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.

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