Artist: Magnum
Album: Into The Valley Of The Moonking
Type: Album
Label: SPV
The last Magnum album, Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow, really hit the spot for me. I loved everything about it; the songs, the production, the artwork, the lyrics…from the first note to the last it just worked. It made me happy from the word go. Into The Valley Of The Moonking is, I think, going to take me a bit longer to really fall in love with. Of course there are still a multitude of positives about this album and the main thing to report is that Magnum are still operating on full power. They’re still producing fine, relevant, worthy, enjoyable albums and they show no sign of running dry anytime soon.
The production is strong and vibrant and Bob Catley is another of those great metal/rock singers whose voice never seems to deteriorate or weaken with the passing years. What with Phil Mogg and Ronnie James Dio also turning in world-beating performances in recent months these long lived legends are certainly showing others how it should be done at the moment. The cover art of ‘…Moonking’ is another piece of classic Rodney Matthews work which should look splendid on the anticipated gatefold vinyl version and the core of the record is a selection of finely crafted Tony Clarkin songs.
‘The Moon King’ is a real highlight; a slow burning, moody track that builds and blossoms into a classic chorus and is augmented with some great bluesy guitar work. ‘No-one Knows His Name’ follows on the heels of this storming number and it’s a slice of vintage Magnum. Unfortunately this is where the ‘but’ part of this review comes in. After a slow start ‘Moonking’ peaks around these two great tracks and goes into a decline after them. ‘In My Mind’s Eye’ feels aimless and meandering, ‘Time To Cross That River’ – despite a pleasing acoustic guitar solo – is just unremarkable and ‘If I Ever Lose My Mind’ even feels rather clumsy.
The brilliantly sung ‘A Face In The Crowd’ does lift things again before the album’s end but I’m still left a little underwhelmed by Magnum’s latest creation. Of course Magnum albums do tend to be growers and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find in years to come that Into The Valley Of The Moonking has become a much loved part of Magnum’s canon. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself taking back these words by the time the live dates come around in November – but not being too hot in the prophecy stakes my review has to reflect the way I feel right now. In no way a poor album (do Magnum make such things?) but perhaps one that struggles a little to live up to its wonderful predecessor.
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http://www.magnumonline.co.uk/
Chris Kee
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