Into The Valley Of The Moon King

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

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When a band releases an album as good as 2007's "Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow", it can sometimes prove a little tricky to produce a follow-up that will please the fans as much. Expectation has been raised, and bands often founder attempting to deliver its promise.

Luckily for fans of Magnum, "Into the Valley of the Moonking" should meet those raised expectations. Whilst the album is perhaps not as instantly accessible as the Princess Alice album, it does prove on repeated listening (I've heard it four times now) to be as good, if not better, than its predecessor.

I think this difference is due to the fact that "Into the Valley of the Moonking" is a more varied album than Princess Alice: it's more varied compositionally and the instrumentational arrangements are richer. These aspects take time to absorb. But worry not, this album has the hallmark Magnum sound alright - great rockers with catchy riffs, power ballads with hooks to reel you in, and impressive musical performances from singer Bob Catley and the rest of the band.

A string-synth prelude ("Intro") leads us into "Cry to Yourself", a fairly standard Magnum rocker (that's a compliment by the way, not a criticism!). "All My Bridges" and "Take Me to the Edge", however, really bring out the fireworks! The pace is raised, Tony Clarkin's guitar really comes alive in these tracks but, even here, the composition is clever, not allowing the songs to become boring. "All My Bridges" opens with a "Pinball Wizzard" style piano run before the high-tempo rock kicks in, then hte verses are sung to a quieter synth-driven backing, before the guitar comes in with a vengeance again for the choruses and the outro. It's ace! Similarly, "Take Me to the Bridge" has some real steel about it - definitely a contender for "track of the album" - superb riff kicking off, lightening up for the verse, back with a vengeance for the chorus. Wow!

The song which is the title track, "The Moonking", is very clever and very good indeed, it's a real "grower". Songwriter (and guitarist) Tony Clarkin has added an extra layer to the normal verse-chorus-verse structure. Here, before the verse, we have an additional section, played and sung in a slow-tempo blues format. The verse and chorus return to more "normal" Magnum styles. So, blues-verse-chorus, repeat, then the bridge section becomes the blues-verse done instrumentally before the chorus comes in. There are some neat musical transitions between these sections. Frankly stunning and well done Mr. Clarkin.

This trio of songs is probably the highest peak of the album. The standard continues to be very high, but these three are going to take some beating!

"No One Knows His Name" is honouring the bravery of the individual soldier, a fine musical tribute it is too."In My Mind's Eye" starts as another "standard" Magnum (more praise!), features a pretty keys&guitar arrangement in the bridge, and goes out with a stonking rock vocal from Bob. Impressive!

"If I Ever Lose My Mind" is another of these good "standard" Magnum rockers, sandwiched by a couple of impressive power ballads. First comes "In My Mind's Eye", in which acoustic guitar is very prominent: the start of the bridge section is very wistful, then there is a slight musical "rest", and you wait with bated breath for the leccy guitar to come swooping in, but no, another Clarkin trick, he delivers a superb acoustic guitar solo. Woof! On the return to the ballad, the electric guitar is there, lowish in the mix - very effective stuff! The other sandwich layer, "A Face in the Crowd", is very catchy, good single material - this would be a great arena sing-along if the band were that big!

Two tracks to go - wham! Raise the tempo! "Feels Like Treason" has all the band in fine form for another pacey rocker! Finally, "Blood on Your Barbed Wire Thorns" (how's that for a title?) leaves me with goose-bumps every time I hear it. It's a great closing number, opening with a super rock-riff, features some fine work on the keys going into the chorus, great bridge section, great guitar soloing - excellent head-banging material here - and then, it just leaves me in pieces on the outro: not quite mirroring the album's prelude "Intro", but very cleverly done, the lush melodic string-synths come in and the piano....the piano...wow!

Now - that's music! Rock on!

A word about the production. I have the CD version of the album - not the Digipack or the vinyl LP - the production sound is very "live" sounding (which I quite like as a personal preference). The bass is quite prominent and you may have to adjust your hi-fi settings and turn the "loudness" button off. I wouldn't call it a bad production however, and the effort getting the sound right is well worth it.

Excellent album! Next, please!!

The great Brummie pompsters just keep getting better and better! Tony Clarkin's lyrics and Bob Catley's crystal clear vocals shine out on this their 15th studio album. They leave the best to last too, try not to hum along with the final track after a few listens. A much underestimated band, great fun live and very very addictive!

It's always a treat to hear a new magnum album.Infact,they are the only band who's albums i would purchase on the day of release.
As for this new one,I hate it when people say "it's the best they've done since...", usually only a few days after it's been released.I've given it a couple of months to settle down and really get to know it and I can confidently say it's every bit as good as Princess Alice,and in my opinion the best they've done since they reformed about 8 years ago.
It's a very solid and consistant album and there are no songs I tend to skip.
Personal favourites are moonking,A face in the crowd and Barbed wire thorns.These would fit in easily with their classic songs from the past and I hope they are played during the upcoming UK tour.
Magnum have slowly matured and very nicely too.Tony's guitar still has that lovely chunky sound and Bob's voice is as emotional and powerful as ever (it is a little gravelly now,but I think that adds to it's charm).
It's an easy recommendation for people who loved magnum in the 70's-80's and wonder how they are sounding today,and also for those who loved Princess Alice. (although there is no song on the CD quite as strong as Alice's opener- When we were younger).

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4.0 out of 5 stars Moonking or Midnight King ?
Brilliant album to add to your collection since the re form, however, The Visitation that came out Jan 17 2011 has topped this one

Get them both and have a see

Published 12 months ago by Andrew Bailey

5.0 out of 5 stars As good live as they are in the studio
It took me a couple of listens to this album to appreciate every track. Planet Rock had shamelessly bombarded us for two months with Feels Like Treason, which I had presumed... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Lucioperca

5.0 out of 5 stars Valley of the Moonking
I love Magnum. What more can I say. The moonking album is awesome. BUY IT!!!!! Full of great riffs and great lyrics. I want to know where Tony gets his inspiration. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Glass Shadow

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Magnum
Like a good wine gets better with age,the same can be said regarding seminal british rock band Magnum,I've followed this band since the mid 80's and they have always produced... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Dantee

2.0 out of 5 stars Do NOT buy from Amazon
Album itself was ok though I do not enjoy it as much as the older albums.

Delivery time from Amazon was appalling so buy it elsewhere as worth having in the... Read more

Published 23 months ago by O. D. Peck

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a fine vintage - Getting better with age
At a time when most people had written this group off as perennial all so rans, Clarkin well and truly hit the jackpot with Princess Alice. Read more

Published on 7 Jan 2010 by I. A. McFarlane

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful stuff!
Listen to this and you will buy the back catalogue! Why aren't they better known?

Published on 6 Jan 2010 by Mrs. S. Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars Better with age
I've left this a while before writing a review, I think I rushed my 'Alice' review by doing it the day after I received it... Read more

Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Min

4.0 out of 5 stars Yeah..its good
Have to admitt, bought this purely on reviews on Amazon. Have not bought a Magnum album since "Chase the Dragon" in 1982, thought they lost there way a bit during the mid 80`s, as... Read more

Published on 16 Oct 2009 by Alan Callaghan

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a fine wine!!!
There aren't many bands out there with over 30 years recording history who can knock out album after album of top quality material. Magnum are one of them. Read more

Published on 13 Oct 2009 by Stotty

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