MAGNUM II

A year after the release of their debut "Kingdom of madness" Magnum returned to the studio to record the follow up. The period between the albums was in reality somewhat longer, most of the first album having been recorded well before it saw the light of day. Like those on the debut, the songs here had in the main been performed live for some time before the studio versions were made.

"Kingdom of madness" was something of a curates egg, ranging from fine prog type numbers to a couple of very ordinary rock songs. It did though capture the imagination of the rock press and audience alike delivering early chart success for the band. Unfortunately, "Magnum II" failed to exploit that success, and was largely ignored. The reason for this is probably largely attributable to the rather safe nature of the product.

Here we have 10 three to five minute rock numbers which were guaranteed to be popular in a live environment, but which lack sufficiently unique characteristics to cause the album to stand out from the crowd. The unimaginative sleeve and title must have done little to generate interest and the lyrics are rather more prosaic than the fables and fantasies who graced the previous release.

The opening "The great adventure" is one of the strongest tracks, featuring the band's trademark harmonies and punchy instrumental support. Tony Clarkin takes the opportunity to add some fine guitar work too, but as would be the case over the coming years, he seems reluctant to step into the spotlight for very long at a time.

Magnum are always good for a power ballad or two, and here "If I could live forever" fits the bill well. The keyboard work by Richard Bailey lifts the track above its peers, as does the effective use of tempo changes. At slightly under 6 minutes "Reborn" is the album's longest track. It is effectively two songs in one, the rather ordinary pomp rock beginning and end being counterpointed very effectively by a much softer and more progressive core. The following "So cold the night" also has a more interesting structure, while offering one the band's heaviest outings to this point.

Two singles were released from the album, "Changes" and "Foolish heart". Both are from the band's most commercial side with strong rhythms and catchy hooks, but neither troubled the charts. The latter has some nice guitar and synth interplay, but both are just a little too lightweight to offer long term attraction.

Overall, I find this album to be symptomatic of my frustration with Magnum over the years. They have made some wonderful music, they are blessed with fine musicians, they have a great vocalist and the songs are composed to a high standard. For me though, they have a tendency to under exploit their strengths, with songs not being fully developed and albums which are enjoyable but not masterpieces. There is no doubt that Magnum have a masterpiece in them, and future albums would certainly come a lot closer to such an accolade. "Magnum II" is not a bad album, indeed there is much to entertain here. Perhaps I allow my frustrations too much space when it comes to Magnum. Best just to listen and enjoy.

The expanded CD release has 5 additional tracks from the period. These include a couple of alternative views of the "Changes" single plus B-sides from different versions of that release. The final track is an acoustic rendition of the other single, "Foolish heart". Of these, the extended version of "Changes" is the most interesting, being a more satisfactory rendition than that on the album.

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