Artist: Magnum 
   Title: Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow
   Label: SPV Records

If ever a band deserved some sort of accolade for their contribution to the world of rock music then Magnum are that band.  A band that have be around for what seems like a dogs age.

The band called it a day back in 1996 and completed a farewell tour that took in many of the bands favourite haunts over the years, but you just can't keep a good dog down and after several side projects by both Clarkin and Catley, one of which ‘Hard Rain’ saw the pair unite once more for two albums, the call for more Magnum by the bands army of fans saw the band reunite once more in 2001.  With the writing talent of Clarkin once again producing that Magnum magic once more, the bands 2002 release ‘Breath of Life’ proved Magnum were back and very much alive and well.  Clarkin continued to produce the goods again in 2004 with the bands ‘Brand New Morning’ album. 

The year is now 2007 and once again Magnum have returned to put all those sceptic’s at bay who said that the band couldn’t produce another high quality release.  They have shown that you can't keep an old dog down as the band return with their new album ‘Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow’.

The album gets underway in fantastic style with the seven minute epic ‘When We Were Younger’ and within the first few chords that classic Magnum sound is once again instantly recognisable.  Added to Clarkin’s awe inspiring song writing, you know you're listening to a Magnum album, not a Hard Rain or a Gary Hughes album, but a Magnum album.

The album continues to impress with the second track ‘Eyes Wide Open’, a little more rockier than the opener but still Magnum through and through and very reminiscent of the bands earlier albums, but the more modern sound production makes the overall sound of the band even better.

The next track ‘Like Brothers We Stand’ is very much on the same line as 'The Blue And The Grey’ from the bands ‘Brand New Morning’ album and tells about the futility’s of war, both similar and at the same time very different, both excellent.

Things start rocking with one of my favourite tracks off the album ‘Out Of The Shadows’.  This is very much a modern day Magnum track.  A huge track full of massive crunching guitar and keyboards all interwoven with a punchy rhythm section and wrapped in Catley’s unmistakable vocals.

Things just get better with another massive Clarkin composition the excellent ‘Dragons Are Real’, a feast for fans of band as this is just magnificent with some sublime chord and tempo changes from Clarkin and with Mark Stanway’s flamboyant keyboards, this rates right up there with some of the all time classic Magnum songs.

One thing that has always been a part of any Magnum album are the downbeat soul searching songs and this album is no different, as things slow down a touch as the band make you reach for the tissues with the tearjerker ‘Inside Your Head’.

The tempo is picked up once more with the awe inspiring ‘Be Strong’, another real master-class in song writing by Clarkin on this one and musically is not bad either, as he and Stanway really go to town on this one by bringing as many elements into the mix as possible, without drowning out the splendour of Catley’s vocals.

Things slow down once more with the reflective tones of ‘Thank You For The Day’, before bringing the things back up a notch or two with another piece of what I like to call modern day Magnum with ‘Your Lies’.  Another piece of rock art from the masters of Art Rock.

Those of you who love the classic sound of the band will just adore ‘Desperate Times’ as this has classic Magnum written all over it, but still fits in well with the rest of the album a tribute to both the production and Clarkin’s timeless lyrical gift.

The album closes with the immense ‘You’ll Never Sleep’, a track that bridges the divide between the classic Magnum sound with the new Magnum and rounds off probably the best Magnum album since the ‘Storytellers Night’ and ‘Wings of Heaven’ albums. 

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