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Rating: On closer inspection, in certain old photos Tony Clarkin looks more like a wizard than a guitarist. And indeed, it is truly magical when you think that this bearded English gentleman (I have long been convinced that he hid spare picks in that thick beard) has been composing wonderful music for more than three decades without ever repeating himself. Our hero has also had the good fortune (is this magic too?) to always find excellent musicians who have supported him in this great adventure in the world of Rock. Musicians who have managed to embellish the compositions without ever succumbing to protagonism, a rare quality in this environment where alleged technical virtuosity is often more of a way to mask a lack of ideas than a genuine asset.
The year of grace 1979, the adventure of Magnum (excluding the single "Sweets For My Sweet" from '75) had already begun the year before with the excellent "Kingdom Of Madness" and now continues with the second chapter, "Magnum II" (is it a reference to the queen or the airship?). I don't know how thrilled the five rockers were with the album cover at the time, but they certainly were with its content (and justifiably so). The album picks up the strong Prog influences of their debut, defining their melodic/symphonic Hard Rock style even more distinctly.
We talked about a great adventure, and indeed "Great Adventure" is the title of the first song, which exemplifies what has been said so far: a complex and decidedly Prog song, so much so that it might baffle those familiar with this group from their mid-'80s onward production. The tone changes completely with the following track, "Changes", a high-class, sunny, emotionally impactful AOR piece later remixed and re-released first as a single, then as a bonus track in the latest CD reissues (and already present in many of the numerous compilations). The melody is also prominent in "If I Could Live Forever", which starts almost like a ballad but in the hands of Magnum becomes something else, and when Tony Clarkin pulls an unexpected yet brilliant Hard Rock acceleration from his magical hat in the middle section, all we can do is tip our hat in the presence of such inspiration. One of their finest songs ever. The album continues with a dynamic and varied Hard Pomp/Prog as in the mini-suite "Reborn", splendidly sung by Bob Catley, or in the dark and intense "So Cold The Night", with an almost martial guitar riff that would make Mr. Tony Iommi envious. But there are also catchier moments like in "Foolish Heart", while closer to the classic ballad standards is "Stayin' Alive" (nothing to do with the Bee Gees' song of the same name!). The performance of keyboardist Richard Bailey is of high level (we will find him again on the live "Marauder" the following year, before he is replaced by the more well-known Mark Stanway) and he also stands out for his precious flute contributions (as in the already mentioned "Reborn" or in "Firebird"). The rhythm section, composed of Colin "Wally" Lowe on bass and Kex Gorin on drums, the latter a musician who, like the great Lee Kerslake of Uriah Heep, would have much to teach those drummers who think the use of their instrument ends with the use of the double bass drum.
The album has been reissued multiple times (also with a science-fiction cover by Rodney Matthews) and the recent CD editions include not only the "Changes" remix but also interesting B-sides. Long live Magnum!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Changes (03:19)
With every word I hear, there's no sympathy
It was destroyed and swept away
It is replaced by something I can't see
To stay forever and always
We really should try and talk it out
Avoid the same mistake again
But I can see there will be no doubt
Looks like we have reached the end
I’m going through changes, so many changes
I’m losing my senses, don't know what to do
I’ll go through my changes, faster than you
Is there no one who feels the same as me?
I’m going through changes, so many changes
I’m losing my senses, don't know what to do
I’ll go through my changes, faster than you
04 If I Could Live Forever (04:05)
Friday night is almost over
Not a word has passed between
And before I get much older
I know if I could live forever
Nothing would change to better
Nothing would change at all
You gave me your love to last me forever I know
You gave me your love to last me wherever I go
Now the world did sell so cheaply
For the price of just a kiss
What should anyone believe me
If again he should embrace you
Would you follow him or stay
Could you take what you would go through
09 Firebird (04:50)
The secret torn from a temple of stone
Still living in memory gray and so cold
Beneath the veil of the mystery lies
Dark promises telling all none can withhold
Though she carries a thousand scars
On her jouney between the stars
Too late I fear I understand now
We must have been here before long ago
The faces change but the image remains
All present and powerful
Oh does this show
And they can't see before their eyes
How the thunder will split the skies
Firebird Oh Firebird
Firebird Oh Firebird
And when the changes some
See the eagle on my horizon
They're coming for everyone
But it seems to be long arriving
A mother scorned and a widow she stays
But when you return again you will see
The craven house of the greedy does rule
Queen vanity everywhere bleeds treachery
For the heroes of luck will decide
On the chose one who will survive
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