ALBUM REVIEW: MAGNUM - ON THE 13TH DAY

Magnum return with a much anticipated studio album that, in addition to delighting their sizeable and loyal fan base, may offer this hard-working and quintessentially English of bands another shot at success. Guitarist Tony Clarkin, has penned another finely crafted, yet instantly memorable set of songs, the first single 'So Let it Rain' being a prime example. Storyteller Bob Catley's voice is still warm and inviting, injecting just the right amount of emotion without ever becoming over sentimental. That trademark melodic touch is still evident throughout, enhanced by Mark Stanway's atmospheric keys, and no more so than on 'Blood Red Laughter' and 'Shadow Town'. Magnum can still rock out with the best of 'em as demonstrated by 'Dance Of The Black Tattoo' which features Clarkin cranking up a heavy riff, reminiscent of 'Kingdom Of Madness'!

Christopher Franklin

ROCK iKON Magazine

ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE HARRIS - BRITISH LION

Having already set the world alight with Metal Legends Iron Maiden, Steve Harris hardly needs an introduction. Recording a groundbreaking album is probably the last thing he wanted to do! Harry’s vocalist, Richard Taylor, is a glorious find: softly uttered vocals, this guy doesn’t need to shout to make himself heard, his presence subtly delivered, this most ably demonstrated with the beautiful, melodic vocalising on ‘Us Against The World’. There are some Maiden influences here and there, but these are mostly incidental and predominantly involve Graham Leslie and David Hawkins’ harmonising guitars. Standout tracks the charming ‘Eyes Of The Young’ and sublime end-game ‘The Lesson’ move to 'emphasise' that ‘British Lion’ is not just another rock album. There are layers upon layers that can be peeled back to find its unexpected rewards!

Pippa Lang

ROCK iKON Magazine

ALBUM REVIEW: MARILLION - SOUNDS THAT CAN'T BE MADE

After what seems like an age Prog rockers Marillion have returned to the fold brimming with new ideas. From the opening eastern orchestration of 'Gaza' it is clear that they aren't scared of musical or lyrical challenges. The song rises and falls taking the listener on a rollercoaster ride of light and shade with Steve Hogarth’s trademark vocals reaching new levels of pure passion. The infectious title track follows, very much in an 80s pop rock mould with Steve Rothery’s guitar and Mark Kelly’s keys taking things to a completely different level. ‘Montreal’ is a concise journey of interlocking pieces and is where the band get to fire on all cylinders. However, the album’s melancholic highpoint is the stirring 'The Sky Above The Rain' with Mr. Rothery’s stunning lead work making it so much more than a simple ballad. Marillion back at the top of their game!

Geoff Banks

ROCK iKON Magazine

ALBUM REVIEW: GUN - BREAK THE SILENCE

It’s possibly the greatest humiliation in rock that Gun (after all the great Glaswegian rock they produced) are still best known for covering a song by funksters Cameo. If being ‘Gallus’ and ‘Taking On The World’ mean anything, it means not settling for this. And true to their destiny, they are back with their first studio album in 15 years, fully charged with the desire to rewrite the rock history books. With the legendary Dave Eringa of Manics fame at the console, part of that blistering surge you hear on big, beefy opener 'Butcher Man' is the sound of all the stops being pulled out. Much of the album is laced with an intriguing mix of pop-punk and Americana (for instance 'Lost & Found' is The Byrds meets The Buzzcocks). With a good mix of punchy and wistful songs 'Break The Silence' is clearly an album constructed with heavy duty touring in mind!

Colin Liddell

ROCK iKON Magazine

ALBUM REVIEW: ASIA - XXX

Thirty years after their classic self-titled debut ascended to the top of the U.S. charts the 'original' line-up of Asia are again 'riding the dragon's wings'. Firmly rooted in pop-rock territory, with infectious hook-lines, 'XXX' re-captures the dynamic energy of that first 'iconic' release. 'Face On The Bridge' with its catchy chorus, the haunting 'Bury Me In Willow', and the emotive 'Ghost Of A Chance' prove that the Wetton/Downes songwriting partnership is stronger than ever. 'Tomorrow The World' and 'Al Gatto Nero' have those clever lyrical turns that vocalist/bassist John Wetton is renowned for while guitarist Steve Howe makes his mark on 'Judas' and 'No Religion' both featuring neat musical interplay with keysman Geoff Downes and drummer Carl Palmer. Asia have delivered their best recorded work since '82 when 'the disco hotspots held no charm for you'!

Mark Crampton

ROCK iKON Magazine

ALBUM REVIEW: RUSH - CLOCKWORK ANGELS

In their time Rush have produced some of the finest recorded moments in rock history, be it guitar-driven hard rock, their late '70s progressive period or their '80s embracing of a cleaner punchier song-based sound. In short 'Clockwork Angels’ is a cleverly calculated album that is aimed to please Rush fans old and new. We had a good idea of what to expect from the sneak previews of 'BU2B' and 'Caravan' (released in 2010) which were intended to give the band some new material for their 'Time Machine' tour. As with these two songs, the single and pre-release taster 'Headlong Flight' show that Rush have squarely replanted their feet in hard rock territory and the production and individual performances of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are again beyond par. A bombastic straight-a-head rock album designed to sound great live!

Geoff Banks

ROCK iKON Magazine

ALBUM REVIEW: JOE BONAMASSA - DRIVING TOWARDS THE DAYLIGHT

Guitar god Joe Bonamassa has reaped his roots for his 13 studio album. Harking back to the glory days of early ‘60s rock n' blues, producer Kevin Shirley has assembled a unique group of musos including Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford. From inspired self-penned originals 'Dislocated Boy', 'Heavenly Soul', 'Somewhere Trouble Don't Go' and the road-tested title track 'Driving Towards The Daylight' to rugged-rock cover versions of Howlin Wolfs' 'Who's Been Talking', Robert Johnsons' 'Stones In My Passway', Tom Waits’ 'New Coat Of Paint', Bill Withers’ 'Lonely Town Lonely Street', Bernie Marsden’s 'A Place In My Heart', Willie Dixon’s 'I Got All You Need' and the Jimmy Barnes classic 'Too Much Ain’t Enough Love' it's a balanced affair highlighting the guitarist's signature style. Another gutsy performance from the blues rock titan - Lucky 13!

Mark Crampton

ROCK iKON Magazine