'Into The Valley Of The Moonking' Reviews

KERRANG Review Issue Nos 1265 June 2009

ENGLAND’S HARD ROCK TRADITIONALISTS ISSUE ANOTHER FINE FANFARE.
KKK Review Steve Beebee

Purveyors of music that seems peculiarly and distinctly English, Magnum may be one of rock’s mildest and easiest to listen to bands, but they’ve always imbued their craft with a Tolkien-esque charm, something unique. Here they continue on their long path with another album of subtle charms, gentle melodies and emotional cadence. Guitarist Tony Clarkin has once again written a set of warmly affecting songs, some epic, some beautifully succinct but all pure of heart, easy to absorb and exactly the fare that fans will anticipate. All My Bridges shiny and up tempo, and the heartfelt A Face in the Crowd will keep Magnum’s night light burning a while yet.

www.kerrang.com

CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY Review Issue 172 June/July 2009
Review AT

Magnum follow up the excellent Princess Alice CD with another fine offering. Tony Clarkin, songwriter and guitarist is clearly at the top of his game and the band respond in fine style. Bob Catley’s vocal performance particularly deserving of praise. More varied than Princess Alice , Into the Valley of the Moonking is full of little musical subtleties and nuances that require a few spins to bed in with the listener but once there it’s clear that this is an album on a par with Magnum’s best. Stonking rockers with great riffs, power ballads with catchy hooks, ear catching musical twists that nod towards the more progressive fans – it’s a vintage Magnum on ice.

www.theclassicrocksociety.blogspot.com

West Side Dave's Metal Site

Magnum-"Into The Valley Of The Moonking"-2009

2007s` "Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow" was something of a milestone for Magnum, a highlight in a long career filled with highlights. Hailing the CD as being right up there with "On A Storytellers Night", many wondered how Tony Clarkin and company would be able to top it. I suspect that the band don`t trouble themselves on how to out-do their last album so much as how they can make latest one just as good. And they have done exactly that with "Into The Valley Of The Moon King"! Using the elements as a descriptive analogy [yeah, I know how that sounds; just stay with me here, ok?], I would have to say that if "Princess Alice" was AIR, then "Moon King" is definitely EARTH. It has a more stripped down, at times Bluesy feel to it and, as many have remarked, takes a couple of listens before its` impact is truly felt. First off, Rodney Matthews has created yet ANOTHER classic Magnum cover than will doubtless be cherished by fans for many years to come; a Magnum cover done by Rodney seems to guarantee a great album! But of course, no one writes songs like Mr. Clarkin, and yet again he has crafted some future Magnum classics. The beautiful "Intro" features features Mark Stanway's keyboard work setting the tone for what`s to follow: "Cry To Yourself" is more mid-tempo and not quite what one would expect for the opening number, which I believe was the intent; upon repeated plays you realize its` the perfect way to kick things off. Flashes of Magnum albums past abound, particularly on "Moonking", which would not have been out of place on "The Eleventh Hour". Amid the more grandoise arrangements is a nice little slide solo; shades of Deep Purple circa "Perfect Strangers"! One of the standouts for me is "If I Ever Lose My Mind", one of the best songs the band has ever recorded. It also features some of Bob Catley`s best vocal work; if Tony is the heart of Magnum, Bob the soul. His vocals have only improved with age and as always bring Clarkn`s words brilliantly to life. And let us not forget the stellar performances of bassist Al Barrow and returning drummer Harry James, both of whom complete what is probably the bands` best lineup. The final track is the 7 minute "Blood On Your Barbed Wire Thorns", which starts out deceptively like an AC/DC-like rocker and then takes on a more Prog feel with some great lead work by Clarkin. All told, "Into The Valley Of The Moon King" is 12 tracks of Magnum at it`s very best. So buy the CD! Buy the LTD Edition w/ the bonus DVD! Buy the 2-LP set with the gatefold sleeve! Buy `em all and play `em all at once, because you can never get TOO much of a good thing! One of 2009s` BEST!

www.westsidedave.tripod.com

Liverpoolstudiomedia.com

Magnum
Into the Valley of the Moonking

With the imminent release of the 15th studio album, Into the Valley of the Moon King, perennial rockers Magnum have once more showed how good they are at recording new and exciting material.

Songwriter/Guitarist/ Producer Tony Clarkin seems to have pulled out all the stops on this album making it one of the catchiest records to date. The opening intro which makes good use of Mark Stanway’s keyboards is quickly followed up by the punchy Cry To Yourself. This track already has the feel of a gig opener and I suspect will be treated with respect by Magnum’s loyal fans.
Tony Clarkin’s song writing does compliment Bob Catley’s vocals and visa versa, In fact it is impossible to think of Magnum without either one.

The album itself jogs along at a fair pace but it is when the band reach Take Me to the Edge that it comes into it’s own. The guitar work is well worked and highlights Tony Clarkin ability as one of the top guitarists in Britain today.

The album title track is reminiscent of early Magnum success with 1985’s On a Story Tellers Night and is none the worse for that bow to the past.

Other tracks worth exploring are In My Minds Eye and the excellent A Face in the Crowd all of which make use of Bob Catley’s incredible voice.

The album also seems to have benefited from the addition of Thunder drummer Harry James for his second album with Magnum, (the previous one being 2004’s Brand New Morning). Having had the advantage of playing with the boys on the last tour, Harry has proved that he is a quality stick man and even with Thunder calling it a day after this up coming tour he at least will still be very much in the public eye.

Without a shadow of doubt this is one of the finest Magnum albums to date.

Magnum will be touring the U.K in Oct/Nov and will be performing at the 02 Academy on the 29th October

Ian Hall.

www.liverpoolstudentmedia.com

www.liverpoolstudentmedia.com/magnum-valley-moon-king-album-review

MAGNUM-WOLVES CIVIC HALL
OCT 31ST 2009

As a Magnum fan i always have High Expectations for their Live Shows-and with the recenlty released 'Into the Valley of the moonking'' on the shelves and with critical acclaim bestowed on it-the pressure was on.

The band came on to an affectionatley rowdly and gleeful response from the crowd-a welcome usually the reserve of a close friend or family-it becomes immediately apparent that the band are musically on top form-Bob Catleys vocals are Clear and sharp-a voice that filled the hall with ease-the vocals of a man that has 30 years of touring under his belt...He literally has the crowd eating out of his hands-every note translated into a flick of the
hand,just like a conducter,every keyboard swathe powering him up as if to recharge him for Battle!!.

The set list predictably leaned heavily towards the new album-tracks such as 'Take me away',the bluesy 'The Moonking' and 'All my bridges' all making an early appearance but sitting happily with more seasoned tunes such as the Epic 'les morts dansant' and 'All Englands Eyes' from the Legendary On a storytellers night album. Also in the mix were the relatively youthful 'Brand new Morning' ,'we all run' and the Magestically tongue in cheek of 'Dragons are real' from the previous release 'Princess Alice and the Broken arrow'-an album that i believe has musically re-energised the band.

The band itself as the music seems visually re-energised-none more so than the Slimmed down Tony Clarkin-who seemed genually stunned at the crowds response to his songs especailly the newer offerings-Clarkin is not a guitarist known for his frills or fancy playing-he carries the songs with Economic riffing and chord selection-leaving Keyboardist Mark Stanway to add the spice and washes of colour to the images he has set down-best examples of this being the afore mentioned 'Dragons are real' and the encore opener 'Dont wake the lion'..it adds to a spectacular Tapestry of sight and sound. The Rythmn section of the realtively youthful Al Barrow and Harry H James (himself just off tour from the criminally overlooked Thunder who have just decided to sadly dispand) really do add a telepathic understanding that nails down that back beat perfectly!!.

The band played to their strengths and crowd favourites like 'All englands Eyes' and the superb 'Vigilante' with its rally calling imagery left the crowd wanting more...and furious chants of 'Magnum Magnum..' were met with a much deseved Encore, the seldom played 'Dont Wake the lion' was a real treat-Played in its entirety-a 10 minute epic,that is surely Clarkins greatest work,from their Top of the Pops heyday!!!, and we were left in ecstacy with the ever popular ''Kingdom of Madness' with the Signature Clarkin barre chord riffing intro..a fitting end as it was this track and the album of the same name that really propelled Magnum into the Major league.My only gripe is the omission of 'Just like an Arrow-but with a back catalogue spanning 30 years-i can let that pass!

Magnum are as Strong as ever....did we ever have any doubt!!.

David Evans