THE MAGNIFICENT – The Magnificent [Japanese Edition]

Requested by many, here’s one album that claims for a salient place in your collection: THE MAGNIFICENT self-titled debut, and this Japanese Edition with a great bonus tracks is the choice.
Definitely seems Scandinavia is the promised land for quality Melodic Rock bands. The Magnificent is a Finnish-Norwegian combined effort of vocalist Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) and guitarist/producer Torsti Spoof (Leverage).
What we have on their self titled debut “The Magnificent” is a massive platter of arena-size AOR in a melodic hard rock wrapper. Every song has an immense layered arrangement with emphasis, of course, on Eriksen’s vocals and Spoof’s fret work.

Since the first track you will hear many references to the golden age of AOR, with a punchy modern sound. Opener “Holding On To Your Love” and specially follower “Cheated By Love” with its magical keyboards and superb melodic guitars have all to be killer, instant winners.
Other arena rockers as “Memories” and “Satin & Lace” are blistering tracks full or energy as well, driven by cracking riffs.

Some songs like the aforementioned “Satin & Lace” and “Bullets” offer a notable synthesizer layer while deepening the groove. For more straight melodic rock, “Smoke & Fire” and “Tired Of Dreaming” delivers a steady groove and pace, with the former featuring a hot melodic guitar solo.

Ballads are obligatory of course, and The Magnificent deliver the goods.
“Angel” is a bombastic and breathless song which soars thanks to the vocal arrangement and a pace that rises to a bristling crescendo.
Later “If It Takes All Night” may fit the more lighter traditional ballad vein, but it still rises to finish with a soaring guitar solo. Even lighter is the closing “Harvest Moon” with its fine mixture of acoustic guitar and synths to support the vocals.
Japanese bonus “Drive” is a soaring melodic rocker rich in harmony vocals with a pumping rhythm section plus great guitars, a track that clearly should have been into the regular edition.

“The Magnificent” offers tasty, clean and streamlined melodic hard rock which is so rich in melody and catchiness that, even if you actually do not like much this genre, you are bound to remember at least one chorus line.
The musicianship is top notch, and guitar fans can look forward to many impressive guitar solos, many of which are truly virtuosic. The vocals are also terrific, Michael Eriksen definitely gives the album yet another point of attraction. Songwriting is incredibly consistent. On an album with 13 tracks is hard not to find at least a filler, but here, all are killers.

“The Magnificent” is a memorable slice of ’80s-style Melodic Hard Rock / AOR with modern sound and excellent production. Definitely, one of the highlights of the decade for the genre.
Highly Recommended.

01 – Holding On To Your Love
02 – Cheated By Love
03 – Memories
04 – Angel
05 – Satin & Lace
06 – Love`s On The Line
07 – Bullets
08 – Smoke & Fire
09 – Tired Of Dreaming
10 – If It Takes All Night
11 – Lost
12 – Harvest Moon
13 – Drive (Japanese bonus track)

Lead and Background Vocals: Michael Eriksen
Lead Guitars, Keyboards and Background Vocals: Torsti Spoof
with:
Drums: Rolf Pilve
Bass: Sami Norbacka
Keyboards: Jukka Karinen
Backing Vocals: Antony Parviainen
Guitar, Bass, Keyboards : Mats Haugen (Memories)
Drums : Tommy Jacksonville (Memories)
Guitars: Tuomas Heikkinen (Satin & Lace, Bullets, Harvest Moon)
Bass: Torsti Spoof (Tired Of Dreaming)

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/SPIN-31
.