Magnum – "The Monster Roars"

I can't believe this is happening. I cannot believe that Magnum – the world's most unfairly overlooked hard rock group – is still putting out such high-quality material. In fact, I might start to cry with joy writing this review.

Yeah, might as well get it out in the open right away: I'm gonna be totally fangirling on Magnum here.

The band was formed 50 years ago. This is their 22nd studio album. And by no means does it sound like the washed-up dinosaur rock that musical ignorants will call it. It sounds like a heartfelt, dedicated effort from an artistically idealistic group of 20-something year-olds with the world on their minds – but with an extra 50 years of experience.

Magnum is, by and large, vocalist Bob Catley's and guitarist Tony Clarkin's creative outlet. The two haved written songs together since 1972, and "The Monster Roars" not only showcases songwriting on that level of experience, but also an impressive technical proficiency. Catley's delivery and technique are more convincing and confident than you could expect from any 74-year old (!) hard rock vocalist. And Clarkin uses his instrument in virtually every imaginable way, demonstrating an impressive versatlity.

Lead single "I Won't Let You Down" sounds like it could have been on one of Queen's later albums. I mean, that's the level of quality we're dealing with here, people.

It's almost impossible to highlight anything here, because the album pretty much consists of highlights. The soaring choruses in songs like "The Present Not the Past", "Your Blood is Violence", and "The Day After the Night Before" are as mighty as ever. Several of these songs make me wanna listen to the album again, and as I'm writing these very words, I'm still only on the first spin!

Lead single "I Won't Let You Down" sounds like it could have been on one of Queen's later albums. I mean, that's the level of quality we're dealing with here, people. And second single "No Steppin' Stones" features a bold brass theme reminiscent of something off of the Blues Brothers soundtrack. But in all its strong energy and positive atmosphere, Magnum just make it work – along with several other stand-out elements. Too many to mention.

All the successful creative gimmicks aside, though, Magnum, in essence, take us back to those glory days and neon nights where rock music sounded like the sonic backdrop for titans hurling lightning bolts at each other from mountain tops. This glorious, colorful fantasy hard rock is the fire that burns within everyone who ever wanted to make their lives grand.

Magnum's music is the wind in your hair and the asphalt underneath your wheels as you and the love of your life are running away in a convertible down an open highway on a summer twilight evening, to chase your dreams in a big, unkown city far away.

Magnum take us back to those glory days and neon nights where music sounded like the sonic backdrop for titans hurling lightning bolts at each other from mountain tops.

No matter how much beauty might exist on planet Earth, the world and mankind still aren't good enough for a band like Magnum. No matter how well we might behave, we don't deserve to have people enrich us and our surroundings with such near-immaculate musical magnificence.

Admittedly, I have to refrain from giving the top grade here, because it's impossible for me to not compare with the band's masterpieces, "On a Storyteller's Night" ('85), "Vigilante" ('86), and "Wings of Heaven" ('88). But this is a prime example of less does it, and several of the songs on "The Monster Roars" could have easily been on either of those albums.

I can't contain this, y'all. I can't believe that hard rock can still be this grandiose and awe-inspiring in 2022. But it is, and it's moving me. I haven't been following Magnum's outputs in this century anywhere near close enough, and it seems more and more like one of my more severe miss-outs – just like all the times I didn't see the band live. Goddammit, I have to see them again.

Take notes, kids. Because this is how real music is made.