MAGNUM – Here Comes The Rain (a review)

MAGNUM’s 23rd studio album came out days after the passing of founding member – guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin. The band have consistently released very good albums since they reformed in 2001, and Here Comes The Rain will be an instant fan favorite, not just because of it’s timing, but simply because it is so easily enjoyable. I like every Magnum album, but this one jumped out at me more so than the band’s previous few albums. Perhaps I didn’t give those enough attention early on, or more so that this one is just loaded with classic Magnum melodies, performances, and bright production. Every track offers something different, and are likeable. Keyboards via Rick Benton seem to have a bigger presence on this record, adding more colors via piano, synths, and organ, notably on favorites like “I Wanna Live”, the orchestrated feel of “After The Silence” and the ballad “Some Kind Of Treachery”, “The Day He Lied”, and the title track. Here Comes The Rain also boasts the rockers ”Blue Tango” , “The Seventh Darkness” (love the sax and guitar interplay, a cool add), and lead off track “Run Into The Shadows”. Heck, this is the best Magnum album since Escape From Shadow Garden, IMO! So much to dig into. Presumably the band’s last album of new songs, and one of their finest! Stunning cover-art from Rodney Matthews, photos Rob Barrow (see below). *Released in various formats and configurations https://store.spv.de/collections/magnum