Right from the first riff of “Run Into The Shadows” this could only be Magnum.
For 50 years and 22 albums, Magnum have done this. It could be argued, perhaps that they’ve never really got the credit they deserve too.
There’s not another band, I’d contend that sounds like Magnum, not really, not with their whole package. Yet they just get on with it, and churn out wonderful records again and again.
This one though, is heavier on the keyboards than normal, but the way Tony Clarkin writes lyrics is so distinctive. And of course, his words and Bob Catley’s interpretation of them is somehow telepathic. That’s the case all the way through”…..Rain”, as it always seems to be.
The title track came out last year and does that classic Magnum thing of sounding like it should be an epic prog song. The strings in the chorus add a level of grandiosity.
At this point in their careers, they have an almost total mastery of what they want to do, the piano-led beauty of the poetry of “Some Kind Of Treachery” is perfect for Magnum fans – and that’s important, as it doesn’t sound like they’re too busy appealing to new audiences here.
Although they’ve cancelled all touring plans, you can’t help but listen to “After The Silence” and imagine them playing it live. Likewise “Blue Tango”. Perhaps the most immediate rocker that “…..Rain” possesses, indeed, it has the same energy as a modern-day Deep Purple track perhaps. Keys man Rick Benton is close to taking the MVP award, although Clarkin’s solo here in the outro is a glorious thing.
“The Day He Lied” is another that follows the template with plenty of piano. The whole record has the feel of a soundtrack.
What there is across “…..Rain” is an impressive commitment to layers and an expansive sound. The horns on “The Seventh Darkness” give way to a magnificent sax solo, while the acoustic guitar on “Broken City” is a real point of difference. Oddly although it is comfortably the most stripped down of the songs here, it’s probably the most powerful..
Another thing that Magnum never gets enough credit for is how catchy they are. The hooks on “I Wanna Live”, on which bassist Dennis Ward excels are as good as any.
There’s a sort of Eastern flavour to the opening of “Borderline” but the album’s last song is its heaviest, perhaps. Fists up in the air more so than many here.
Given the ages of the two main guys and the fact they’ve cancelled their spring tour, it’s probably fair to say that Magnum are not here for years to come. If this is their swansong, though, it’s a fitting climax. A band that keeps pushing themselves but at the same time keeps being true to themselves is a rare and wonderful thing. That spirit, though, is all the way through “Here Comes The Rain”.
Magnum don’t make bad albums. This, though, is a really good one.
Rating 8.5/10
REVIEW: MAGNUM – HERE COMES THE RAIN (2024)
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