MAGNUM — Kingdom Of Madness (review)

MAGNUM — Kingdom Of Madness album cover Album · 1978 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Kingdom of Madness" is the debut full-length studio album by British melodic hard rock act Magnum. The album was released in 1978 by Jet Records but most of the songs were actually already recorded in 1976. As a consequence of the long wait between recording and releasing the album Magnum had time to tour the UK extensively. They even scored the opening slot for Judas Priest on their "Sin After Sin" UK tour in 1977. But as Magnum had actually existed since 1968 it´s not hard to imagine that they were a very solid live act in 1977 and therefore on high demand. Most of the songs on "Kingdom of Madness" are songs they performed in those years.

The music is melodic hard rock with a few progressive elements. Opening song "In The Beginning" is probably the best example of progressive leanings on the album, but even though the basis of the music is pretty basic melodic hard rock there are just enough surprises along the way to call this borderline progressive.

The musicianship is really great. Lots of great melodic guitars and keyboards, a tight rythm section and Bob Catley´s strong vocal performance to top it all of. A great playing band.

The album was recorded in De Lane Lea Studios in London and producer Jake Commander has created a pleasant sound for the music.

I expected nothing but got a whole lot more than that by listening to "Kingdom of Madness". Magnum is one of those bands I have known the existence of since my early teens but never really listened to as the concept of melodic hard rock/ AOR/ heavy rock normally doesn´t click with me but I must admit that this album with its additional progressive moments actually made me smile and say yeah a few times (which would be my way of showing that I´m impressed). A good debut album by Magnum well deserving a 3.5 star rating from me.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Skull Burned Wearing Hell Like A Life Vest As The Night Wept Mathcore
FRONTIERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Reclamation Of I Metalcore
IMMINENCE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Future Ghost - Wolves (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 9 hours ago
Future Ghost - Nemesis Game (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 9 hours ago
Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Sunmancer - Realms of Dilemma (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 6 days ago
Sunmancer - Lower Cavalier (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 6 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed