Magnum - Breath Of Life

Year of Release: 2002
Label: SPV
Catalog Number: SPV 085-72902
Format: CD
Total Time: 58:39:00

...even they are back! Yes, they are with us one more time: Bob Catley, Tony Clarkin, Mark Stanway (all together with bass player Al Barrow), united for the eleventh studio album marked Magnum, the record that unmistakably shows the glorious return of one of the most distinguished realities of the so called "pomp rock," a genre that has scraped together a vast amount of fans in past years (along with the criticism of some mediocre writers). In fact it's important to note that with the new album Breath Of Life, we are not faced with a release that merely celebrates the band's history, but instead offers an impressive and up-to-the-minute continuation of that history, as the record goes off like a bomb. Watch out, as the opening will probably cause you heart failure, with the rock solid "Cry" that sets a syncopated and captivating pace, thanks to a cutting guitar surrounded by thunderous choruses, which simply reverberate the magic voice of elf Bob. And we're only at the beginning, as the following pearl called "This Heart" demonstrates, a song with a choral foundation similar to the ones of Kansas, another band already emblazoned in the rock Olympus. But let's return to Breath Of Life, an album which, as epitomized by the title, represents a bright sign of existence for the English combo, the "so much" awaited reunion CD that undoubtedly gives hope for the band's future. In fact, excluding some little holes left on "Dream About You", Magnum are in excellent shape, unabated by the six years of prolonged break just passed by. On the other hand, with songs like the emotional "Just Like January" or the aggressive "The Face Of An Enemy," we can only listen in devout silence to the talent of these "gentlemen." Welcome back Magnum!!!

Tracklisting:
Cry (5:13) / This Heart (4:03) / Everyday (6:34) / Still (4:02) / Dream About You (4:15) / Breath Of Life (4:48) / After The Rain (4:03) / That Holy Touch (5:11) / Let Somebody In (4:19) / The Face Of An Enemy (3:47) / Just Like January (4:29) / Night After Night (7;55)

Musicians:
Bob Catley - vocals
Tony Clarkin - guitar
Mark Stanway - keyboards
Al Barrow - bass

Discography:
Kingdom Of Madness (1978/1999)
Magnum II (1979/1999)
Marauder (Live At The Marquee) (1980/1999)
Chase The Dragon (1982/1999)
The Eleventh Hour (1983/1999)
Vintage Magnum (1984/1992/2002)
On A Storytellers Night (1985/2000/2003/2005*)
Vigilante (1986)
Anthology (1985/2002)
Mirador (1987)
Wings Of Heaven (1988/1990/1995) Nightriding (Best of) (1988) Invasion Live (1989)
Foundation (1990) (boxed set)
Goodnight L.A. (1990/1999)
Collection (1990/1992)
Spirit: A History (1991/1998)
Sleepwalking (1992)
Battle (1992)
Archive (1993/1997)
Chapter & Verse (The Very Best Of) (1993)
Captured (1993)
Uncorked (Best Of) (1995/2000)
Rock Art (1995)
Firebird (1995)
Keeping The Night Light Burning (1995/2000)
Vintage Magnum - Electric and Acoustic (1995)
The Last Dance (Europe) (1996)
Stronghold (UK) (1996)
Road To Paradise (1998)
Progressive Classics (1999)
Legends - Live (1999)
Live In London (?)
Archive Streets (2000)
Castle Masters Collection (2000)
Days Of Wonder (live 1976) (2000)
Breath Of Life (2002)
The River Sessions (2004)
Long Days, Black Nights: The Alternative Anthology (2004)
An Introduction To Magnum (2004)
Anthology, Vol. 2 (2004)
Brand New Morning (2004)
Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow (2007)
Wings Of Heaven Live 2008 (2008)
Into The Valley Of The Moonking (2009)
The Gathering (2010)
The Visitation (2011)
Evolution (2011)
On The 13th Day (2012)
Escape From The Shadow Garden (2014)
Escape From The Shadow Garden - Live 2014 (2015)
The Valley Of Tears - The Ballads (2017)
Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies (2016)
Lost On The Road To Eternity (2018)
Live At The Symphony Hall (2019)

Live! - The Sacred Hour (VHS) (1985)
On A Storyteller's Night (VHS) (1985)
On The Wings Of Heaven Live (VHS) (1988)
From Midnight To LA (VHS) (1990)
Chapter & Verse (VHS) (1993)
A Winter's Tale (DVD) (2003)
Live Legends (DVD) (2004)
Live At Birmingham (DVD) (2004)
Live In London (DVD) (2005)
Livin' The Dream (DVD) (2005)

Genre: Melodic Rock-AOR

Origin UK

Added: April 7th 2002
Reviewer: Igor Italiani

Artist website: www.magnumonline.co.uk
Hits: 1942
Language: english