ALBUM REVIEW: Here Comes The Rain – Magnum

Here Comes The Rain is the 23rd (!) studio album from the classic rock band MAGNUM. The band were formed in the late 1970s, and the two original members Tony Clarkin and Bob Catley have remained ever present. Clarkin is the main songwriter and guitarist whereas Catley provides lead vocals. MAGNUM’s earlier works had leanings towards progressive rock but they developed into a more classic rock sound after that.

The band achieved most notable success in the late 1980s, including five Top 40 singles. There was even an appearance on Top Of The Pops in 1988. Following the break up of the band in 1995, Clarkin and Catley formed a new outfit called HARD RAIN. However, in 1999 MAGNUM reformed and have continued to produce albums frequently since then. In 2002, they were signed to the label Steamhammer/SPV and have released an album at least every two years since then. Each recording has had some success, most notably in 2018, when Lost On The Road To Eternity reached number 15 in the UK album charts. Our advice to listeners new to MAGNUM recordings is to investigate their back catalogue. In particular albums such as Chase The Dragon, Vigilante and Wings Of Heaven are true classics.

In addition to Clarkin and Catley, the band are made up of Richard Benson on keys, Denis Ward on bass and Lee Morris, who plays drums. Their typical sound is melodic hard rock. However, they always embellish their studio albums with plentiful keyboards and, as on this album, instruments not normally associated with rock.

Here Comes The Rain is classic MAGNUM. On the whole, the songs are in 4/4 time with powerful drums, bass and rhythm guitar. The first track Run Into The Shadows exemplifies this. Following a keyboard introduction a pounding rock beat develops and is a powerful way of setting up the record. Layered vocals are another feature of MAGNUM’s typical output and at times their harmonies resemble some of the anthemic choruses produced by bands such as QUEEN. The title track is also powerful, but at a slower pace with some lovely synthesisers underpinning the melody.

MAGNUM are perhaps at their most intriguing when they veer away from traditional rock. On this record there are a number of examples which characterise this. For example, on the track I Wanna Live there is a gorgeous piano introduction with acoustic guitar then being added. Denis Ward plays a very melodic bass in the bridge and there is then a soaring guitar solo leading to the keyboard repeating the chorus. The outro, which has a sound similar to a Hammond organ, is very special indeed. The third track Some Kind Of Treachery benefits from being in 6/8 time which allows the melody to flow. One expects a guitar solo to occur after the middle eight but MAGNUM surprise us by returning to the chorus instead. The outro on this song has keys reprising the chorus. A guitar melody at this point might have benefited the song, but nevertheless, the overall effect is pleasing.

The most unusual song is The Seventh Darkness which is enhanced by Nick Dewhurst playing trumpet and Chris ‘Beebe’ Aldridge lending an impressive saxophone to the overall mix. Indeed, the jousting between the saxophone and lead guitar after the chorus is exceptional. Broken City is interesting in that the listener is led to expect a big chorus to appear when the verses seem to be leading to that. However, Clarkin’s gift for songwriting shines through in that he avoids this too predictable outcome. Blue Tango is the heaviest song with shades of ZZ TOP and the final track Borderline runs to just over six minutes and has Eastern overtones in the intro before leading into a standard for 4/4 rock beat. Once again the harmonies are good. The chorus is powerful and the guitar solo melodic. Some lovely piano enhances the song as the album draws to close.

Overall, Here Comes The Rain features ten very strong songs on this latest offering by MAGNUM. It is a record that will be benefit from repeated listening and many of the songs would do well in a live setting. Sadly, Tony Clarkin has tragically passed away following a short illness, leaving Here Comes The Rain as his swansong. Everyone at Distorted Sound sends our condolences to his family, friends and bandmates.

Rating: 8/10

Here Comes The Rain is set for release on January 12th via SPV/Steamhammer. 

For more information on MAGNUM like their official page on Facebook.