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NEW MAGNUM ALBUM
"Into The Valley Of The Moonking"

Available as Limited edition digi-pak (incl. Bonus DVD) Jewel case, double Gatefold LP and download!

Into The Valley Of The Moonking - Tour 2009

MORE EUROPEAN DATES TBC

New show announced Date: October 20th
Venue: Santiago Alquimista

2009 will see the arrival of their new studio album, Into The Valley Of The Moonking. The band surrounding vocalist Bob Catley and guitarist/songwriter/producer Tony Clarkin have recorded a dozen new songs which sound melodic and rocking, diverse and catchy. “My hope is to make it interesting for anyone who hears the album, so I put great emphasis on lyrics and musical arrangements,” offers Clarkin and can rest assured in view of these impressive tracks that his band’s substantial following will love" Into The Valley Of The Moonking". Magnum shine with a large number of sensitive melodies and gritty hooks, and the track, ‘Moon King’, sees Clarkin get out his blues guitar and proves that Magnum’s vocalist cuts a fine figure in every rock genre. Into The Valley Of The Moon King is new and exciting and features small surprises and intricate details, yet the album definitely continues Magnum’s typical melodic rock tradition. Clarkin: “I think the common ground in all Magnum releases is that we take great pride in making a record and always do the best we can.”

Review by Dean Pedley for www.seaoftranquility.org

The partnership between Magnum guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin and vocalist Bob Catley is now well into its fourth decade and yet like a fine vintage wine it grows ever more appealing with age. More than thirty years since their debut Kingdom of Madness was given a rave review by Sounds Geoff Barton who compared them at the time to Starcastle, Yes, Kansas and Queen, Magnum remain a band to be cherished. Whilst those comparisons were justified in the beginning, across albums such as The Eleventh Hour, On A Storytellers Night and Wings of Heaven Magnum developed a style that was uniquely their own as they became one of the UK's most enduring bands with stirring anthems, melodic rockers and power ballads in abundance. After a hiatus during the latter half of the 90's that saw Clarkin and Catley diversify with Hard Rain (or Magnum-lite as it could have been described) the pair brought Magnum out of hibernation with the uncertain Breath of Life in 2002 that was followed by the much improved Brand New Morning two years later. But even this paled when compared with the majestic return that was 2007's Princess Alice and The Broken Arrow and this rich vein of form is carried through into this relatively brisk follow-up, the wonderfully titled Into The Valley Of The Moonking. Ever since the Jeff Glixman - produced Chase The Dragon in 1982 Magnum's artwork has been an important element of the overall package and Moonking is no exception, once again provided by the exquisite touch of fantasy artist Rodney Matthews who has been so effective over the years in bringing Clarkin's initial ideas to life. With Matthews involvement it simply feels like a Magnum album before you have even taken the CD out of the box.

The opening 'Intro' is precisely that; Mark Stanway's keyboards conjuring up a windswept landscape that sets the scene for what is to come and segues into the mid tempo 'Cry To Yourself' and whilst it lacks the immediate impact of some of the later tracks it proves to be a solid enough opener. Tony Clarkin's songwriting is nothing short of amazing as he once again delivers lyrics that are truly inspirational, the careworn ballad 'A Face In The Crowd' being a perfect example. Clarkin's lyrics have often dealt with self-belief and perseverance in the face of struggle and adversity ('The Spirit', 'When The World Comes Down', 'Desperate Times') and 'A Face In The Crowd' is another worthy addition to the list. Another theme often revisited has been the futility of conflict and the dramatic 'No-one Knows His Name' joins a canon that includes 'Les Morts Dansent', 'Don't Wake The Lion' and 'The Flood' in remembering those who have been lost on the battlefield. Catley's voice aches with emotion on the stirring 'If I Ever Lose My Mind' although this is hardly a surprise as he never sounds anything less than immaculate.

Away from the anthems, 'Take Me To The Edge' and the urgent 'Feels Like Treason' find the band cranking it up a gear and varying the pace with two quality hard rockers. The (near) title track is where Clarkin brings out his blues guitar and combines it with Magnum's grandiose style to blow away the cobwebs whilst the fantasy imagery of the lyric perfectly complements the cover art. Magnum's albums have often closed with sweeping epics and this proves no exception with 'Blood On Your Barbed Wire Thorns' starting like a gritty, up-tempo rocker (with some delicate piano embellishments from Stanway) before taking an altogether different direction around the four minute mark with an instrumental passage that becomes a showcase for an evocative Clarkin solo before Stanway plays the song out. The songwriting and musicianship are exceptional throughout and I don't expect to hear a better album this year so a five star rating is more than justified.

Out of the valley of the Moonking Magnum have emerged triumphant. Long may they continue.

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