BOB CATLEY – Legends [Escape Music reissue + bonus] (2025) *HQ*

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We already featured the Escape Music re-release of much loved vocalist BOB CATLEY (Magnum, Avantasia) two albums, now it’s time for ‘‘Legends [Escape Music reissue + bonus]” including bonus tracks, with new artwork done by legendary artist Rodney Matthews.
Since formed 1972, Catley was the frontman of Magnum for more than two decades. But in the Nineties the band split and the formation of Hard Rain in 1995 with bandmate Tony Clarkin pursuing a more Pop-rock direction – didn’t sit well with Catley, and after a headline performance at The Gods in the late 90s, a conversation with Bruce Mee of Now & Then Records saw Catley agree with a decision which eventually led to his debut solo album, 1998’s ‘The Tower’.
”Legends” is the follow up, and like The Tower, was written by TEN frontman Gary Hughes and may be thought of perhaps as a Ten album with Bob singing instead of Gary as, again like The Tower, we have the always excellent Vinny Burns riffing and shredding away, and Greg Morgan (TEN) on drums.
Each of the 10 songs on ”Legends” are based on a character either real, from historical literature or mythology. For example Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Dracula, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and Wuthering Heights to name a few. Musically, arguably not surprising given some of the subject matter, Legends is darker and heavier than The Tower with some gothic and symphonic and progressive themes throughout – still melodic and AOR flavored.

Yet in typical Gary Hughes style he does bring in here and there the emotional piano based ballad elements such as during Where the Heart Is.
The Pain starts the album off in good style. A fast attention-grabbing five minutes of heavy yet melodic rock with Burns trademarks all over it and a most fine solo. Shelter From the Night is the first hint of the darker, gothic feel with it being based on Dracula with more blazing guitar from Burns.
Carpe Diem has an atmospheric feel to it then the Marilyn Monroe tribute of Tender is the Night is handled nicely ballad style.

The very strong duo of Medusa and Hydra go full on hard, heavy, dark and symphonic and Bob’s having a fine time with the vocals. The two songs compliment each other very well too. A Beautiful Night for Love is one of those Hughes ballads – which fits the theme with is being around Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Next up is Too Late – a rocked up midtempo rocker based on Phantom of the Opera.

Then we have the full on all out lush, driving, progressive symphonics of The Light. Bob’s vocal and Burns’ guitars everywhere throughout the eleven minutes which pass in a flash – it’s such a fine song in composition, arrangement and performance.
Where the Heart Is comes next as a gentle ballad – then the three bonus tracks of Bob belting out three songs from The Tower taken from his set at The Gods back in 1999.

”Legends” grown on you significantly as you’ve got in to it. The generally heavier, darker style has bite to it reflects the themes of the songs making it all having a cohesive feel. It’s a very well written record, balanced with melody and epicness, and it’s plenty of superb vocals and instrumentation.
Highly Recommended

01 – The Pain
02 – Shelter From The Night
03 – Carpe Diem
04 – Tender Is The Night
05 – Medusa
06 – Hydra
07 – A Beautiful Night For Love
08 – Too Late
09 – The Light
10 – Where The Heart Is
Bonus Tracks:
11 – Dreams (Live)
12 – Fear Of The Dark (Live)
13 – Far Away (Live)

Bob Catley: Lead and Backing Vocals
Gary Hughes (Ten): Keyboards, Bass, Backing Vocals
Vinny Burns (Dare, Ten): Guitars
Greg Morgan (Ten): Drums

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www.amazon.com/Legends-Bob-Catley/dp/B0DQLV4TC3