THE MAGNIFICENT - review added 8th November 2011
Album Review: S/T (2011)
For fans of: Hard Rock
Cross-Scandinavian band The Magnificent is built around Norwegian singer Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) and Finnish producer/guitarist Torsti Spoof (Leverage). I have no idea how they got together, but I'm bloody glad they did as this album is damned awesome.
The sound is a huge modern take on the best of the late 1970s through to the early 1990s. The guys have clearly been influenced by Journey, Bon Jovi, Giant and all those other best-of-the-best melodic rock bands. Rather than simply copying, they have taken elements of the work of their heroes, updated it, made it bigger, heavier, and much more dramatic, then performed it with the skill and tenacity of guys who deserve to be a lot more famous than they are.
Every song on this self-titled masterpiece offers something golden. In fact it's hard to pick a best moment as every second is more enjoyable than...something very enjoyable indeed.
In Summation:
I'm not sure I've heard anything else this good this year, and I've already heard a lot of good albums. BUY THIS NOW!
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Track List:
01. Holding On To Your Love
02. Cheated By Love
03. Memories
04. Angel
05. Satin & Lace
06. Love`s On The Line
07. Bullets
08. Smoke & Fire
09. Tired Of Dreaming
10. If It Takes All Night
11. Lost
12. Harvest Moon
Band/Performers:
Lead and Background Vocals: Michael Eriksen
Lead Guitars, Keyboards and Background Vocals: Torsti Spoof
Drums: Rolf Pilve
Bass: Sami Norbacka
Keyboards: Jukka Karinen
Backing vocals: Antony Parviainen
'Memories' Guitar, Bass, Keyboards: Mats Haugen
'Memories' Drums: Tommy Jacksonville
'Satin & Lace', 'Bullets', 'Harvest Moon' Guitars: Tuomas Heikkinen
'Tired of Dreaming' Bass: Torsti Spoof
Other Info:
Label: Frontiers Records
