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Nell'attesa che Shooting Star (a proposito, c'entra nulla il gruppo Pomp Rock americano autore della spendida "Summer Sun"?) pubblichi la sua recensione di "Kingdom Of Madness", e incoraggiato dalla buona accoglienza che i Magnum hanno finora avuto qui su DeBaser, ho pensato di portare alla vostra attenzione quello che a mio avviso è (ancor più del ben più noto "On A Storyteller's Night") il loro apice creativo, sia per ciò che concerne la qualità delle composizioni che per la perfetta sintesi degli stili in esso proposti.
Hard Rock, Pomp/Prog e una spruzzata di AOR sono gli ingredienti principali di questo "Chase The Dragon" che, uscito nel 1982, vedeva l'ingresso del tastierista Mark Stanway, musicista competente e ricco di gusto (ancora oggi presente nella line-up), autore qui di un'ottima performance sia nei rari momenti solisti che nel creare quelle atmosfere magniloquenti così care al gruppo di Birmingham.
Primo lavoro (relativamente al gruppo) a vantare una splendida copertina fantasy ad opera del famoso (?) Rodney Matthews e a mostrare il logo con la "M" a forma di spadone, l'album si ricorda anche perchè contiene alcuni fra i momenti piu duri della loro discografia. Questa caratteristica è già ben evidente nell'opener "Soldier Of The Line", brano di epico Heavy Rock guidato dalla sicura voce di un Bob Catley ora evocativo, ora inaspettatamente tagliente. Decisamente heavy anche "The Teacher", gioiello dimenticato in cui l'incedere di un ritmo Rock n' Roll non riesce a trattenere la naturale propensione sinfonica dei nostri. Notevole anche il lungo assolo di Tony Clarkin in cui emergono influenze blackmoriane nell'uso dello "staccato" e della leva. Gli amanti del rock progressivo invece resteranno incantati dalle magiche note di tastiera che ci introducono "Sacred Hour", brano ricco di pathos e vero momento di gloria del già citato Stanway durante i concerti, o dai fraseggi di moog nella poetica "We All Play The Game", con una ritmica di chitarra acustica tanto semplice quanto bella e una toccante interpretazione di Catley. E ora, signore e signori, il pezzo che da solo può ben rappresentare l'intera opera dei Magnum, nonchè il primo pezzo che mi verrebbe in mente se qualcuno mi chiedesse di fargli sentire qualcosa di questo gruppo: sto parlando di "The Spirit", autentico capolavoro di Hard Rock pomposo introdotto da una meravigliosa parte folk medievaleggiante con un Catley da applauso, prima che i power chords di Clarkin ci riportino in territori più hard, ma con la melodia sempre in primo piano. Un brano che potrebbe piacere ai fan dell'AOR come ai seguaci del metallo più classico.
La recente (beh, del '99...) ristampa su CD include anche delle bonus tracks fra cui il singolo "Back To Earth/Hold Back Your Love", due versioni live, e il piacevole inedito "Long Days Black Nights". Ed ora tocca a voi!
Elenco tracce e testi
01 Soldier of the Line (04:17)
Soldier of the line, how does it feel?
You're far away from home, polishing steel
The sun moves in between the mountain and sky
As dawn puts out its fingers, splitting them wide
Soldier of the line, what do you know?
About the other side, they never show
They must be well disguised, biding their time
Their armour well prepared so nothing will shine
Solider of the line, would you kill me?
There's something in your eyes stopping you see
They're cloudy and you turn your head away
What's that rolling down your face, are you okay?
Hold back those tears from your eyes
Don't show those feelings inside
You're in a murderous playground
War games on a castle wall
You're in a murderous playground
Crossed out if you dare to fall
Soldier of the line, it isn't fair
You're bleeding deep inside, nobody cares
Your flag and lance stand proud, splintered and red
No movement in the fields, the crows will be fed
Soldier of the line, you've come to the end
You'll never get to see your mother again
Some unfamiliar place you're going to stay
An unremembered name, an unforgettable day
You're in a murderous playground
War games on a castle wall
You're in a murderous playground
Crossed out if you dare to fall
03 The Spirit (04:18)
Don't place your trust in foolish promises sworn
Nor cryptic message scrawled upon every wall
Street corner justice beware
The spirit will find you always be fair
The shallow verse once read means nothing at all
Nor fearful gestures made for instant recall
In lies your heart will not share
The spirit inside you is used without care
To the spirit that guides you, follow it through
To the spirit inside you, always be true
You know you'll despair
If the spirit inside you is used without care
The battlefield of glory pales into rust
The river flows much thicker, fed by each thrust
No beast alive does compare
The spirit besides you everywhere
Let not your head be turned by tainted reward
And dreams of fortune won, forever to hoard
Your conscience could not repair
The spirit inside you is used without care
'Cause it will be your shelter
Help you how to decide
And it will be your helper
Should your loyalties divide
The spirit that guides you, follow it through
To the spirit inside you, always be true
You know you'll despair
If the spirit inside you is used without care
The ash of pages swept before the cruel wind
The loss of choices praises no one will sing
No clues to how you will fare
The spirit implores you tread where you dare
The dust lies thick on casket, rich or quite poor
Distinction disappears, the worm both deplore
The candle burns out once more
For the spirit inside you won't be ignored
The spirit that guides you, follow it through
To the spirit inside you, always be true
You know you'll despair
If the spirit inside you is used without care
04 Sacred Hour (05:32)
All of my dreams that fell through and had tasted so sour
Take second place in my mind for this one sacred hour
Still I’ve been moved for so long by this strange fascination
Here, as I stand all alone in complete concentration
Face through the clouds and the gods shine with awe splendour
Rise up and roar, they approve, will they always remember?
I hear the voice of the crowd, it will last forever
Locked in my heart, kept away like a stolen treasure
I can hear them calling
Hear the crowd applauding
If it's real, I like the feeling
If I’m wrong, who am I deceiving?
Night after night it repeats an exciting romance
Shared by us all, though we met by a fleeting half chance
Caught trapped in time, no escape from this powerful dream world
Pleased, though I am to be here, I am lost in the real world
I can hear them calling
Hear the crowd applauding
If it's real, I like the feeling
If I’m wrong, who am I deceiving?
All of my dreams that fell through and had tasted so sour
Take second place in my mind for this one sacred hour
Still I’ve been moved for so long by this strange fascination
Here, as I stand all alone in complete concentration
I can hear them calling
Hear the crowd applauding
If it's real, I like the feeling
If I’m wrong, who am I deceiving?
In this one sacred hour
06 We All Play the Game (04:08)
Now you've found yourself can you tell me how you feel
Oh you look so well everything seems new and real
Can you rise above all the worldly cares you had
All the foolish thoughts have they really left your head
Yes I'd like to see if you really know for sure
Are you still conviced what you had was less before
Will it last for long you're obsessed by new ideas
There's a change in you but you change most every year
Can you stand there and tell me now
It's not only a dream it's better
It's a part you could play for ever
We all play the game
We all play the game
And 'though we think again still it will be the same
We play the game this foolish game
The search goes on never ending thirst unquenched
What you're looking for someone yet has to invent
Does it please you well did you have to look so hard
And you travel far 'though the answer's in your heart
07 The Teacher (03:21)
I bring you peace and understanding
I give you freedom from your cares
I bring the truth with no illusion
To give you hope when you despair
I have the secret of the whirlwind
I keep the eagle close at hand
This kingdom tall as any mountain
Will reap the treasure from the land
I am the teacher
I am the teacher
I am the teacher
More than you'll ever know
Everything I can show
I have the answers to all questions
Above us here and far below
No voices will be raised in anger
No cruel ambitions will you show
08 The Lights Burned Out (04:27)
The lights burned out, and with it it's taken my eyes
It seems so hard it's taken me by surprise
And oh baby all that you said must be lies
I cease to feel the wind and the rain on my face
Sometimes I'm sure but then I'm confused in my haste
And oh baby I'm standing but taking no space
But I don't cry easy no I don't cry at all
Oh but you don't believe me and I think that's my only downfall
What am I going to do about you baby
What am I going to do without you now
You had my love wild as an ocean could call
I was the fool and you were the winner take all
And oh baby it's so much to me yet so small
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